Abstract:
The main goal of this study was to assess the additional diagnostic
and clinical value of the anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide IgG
antibodies (anti-CCP) compared with the commonly used rheumatoid
factor latex agglutination test (RF) for diagnosis of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) .
This study was carried out at Omdurman Military Hospital during the
period from May to September , 2012 , on a total of
hundred
individuals , fifty (n=50) of them were RA- positive patients and
fifty (n=50) apparently healthy persons (RA-negative) as control
group .
The results of this study revealed that anti-CCP test had fairly high
specificity (98 % ) compared to (94 %) obtained by conventional RF
test (P value 0.00) . In addition , while RF test showed 44 % sensitivity
, anti –CCP test revealed 70% sensitivity (P value 0.00) , sensitivity
and specificity of both tests looks significant .
Obviously , this finding supported the fact that the high specifity and
sensitivity of anti-CCP IgG is particularly useful in RF-negative
patients . Anti-CCP antibodies are more specific for diagnosing RA . In
Sudanese patients with RA , anti-CCP test exhibit a better diagnostic
value than RF test .
