Journal d'immunologie clinique et cellulaire
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Diagnostic Value of Antibodies Against a Modified Citrullinated Vimentin in Egyptian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Reem Hamdy Abdellatif Mohammed, Sahar Abou el-Fetouh and Hanan S Abozaid

Objective: To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of sero-positivity to antibodies against modified citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in comparison with anti-CCP2- in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among Egyptians, considering the possible correlation to demographic and disease related features in the study group.
Patients and methods: This study included forty patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and thirty matching healthy controls. Patients’ assessment measures involved the disease activity score (DAS-28), visual analogue scale (VAS) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). Thirty healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as a control group. Blood samples were obtained from patients and controls for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF). Anti-CCP2 and anti-MCV were determined using ELISA technique.
Results: Estimated serum levels of anti-CCP2 and anti-MCV were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p<0.001). Serum levels of anti-MCV didn’t show any significant variations with age, disease duration, duration of morning stiffness, number of swollen and tender joints, HAQ or ESR in patients with RA, yet serum levels of anti-MCV correlated significantly with DAS28, VAS and CRP (p<0.05). Anti-CCP2 correlated significantly with DAS28, VAS and CRP and ANA (p<0.05). Serum levels of anti-MCV and anti-CCP2 showed a consistently significant correlation with each other (r=0.483; p<0.001). Statistical analysis showed that anti-MCV had diagnostic specificity, sensitivity of 93.3%, 75.5%, respectively, while anti-CCP2 specificity, sensitivity of 98.1%, 85%, respectively.
Conclusion: Serum anti-MCV as well as the anti-CCP-2 assay perform comparably well in the diagnosis of RA. In the high-specificity range, however, the anti-CCP2 assay appears to be superior to the anti-MCV test.