Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide and Rheumatoid Factor (Prevalence and Association) in Saudi Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

To assess the prevalence and association of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides and rheumatoid factor in Saudi rheumatoid arthritis patients.Over three years (February 2011 - February 2014). Demographic and clinical features, drugs, rheumatoid factor-positivity, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides-positivity were recorded for 205 Saudi rheumatoid arthritis patients (185 females; mean age was 45 years and mean disease duration was 5 years). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides and rheumatoid factor were assessed in serum. Disease activity scores for 28 joints was used. There were 36% rheumatoid factor+ve and 45% anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides+ve. 21.5% of the rheumatoid factor-ve subjects were anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides+ve. 13.3% of the rheumatoid factor positive patients were anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides-ve and 86.7% were anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides+ve. Significant association (P 0.5); nevertheless, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides positive patients appear to represent a greater need for combination disease modifying drugs.