Correlation of hs-CRP Levels with Anti-CCP And Rheumatoid Factor Among Clinically Suspected Rheumatoid Arthritis Cases

A Predictor for Early Inflammation?

  • Bineeta Kashyap Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Nisha Goyal Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Krishna Singha Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Mohd Tajuddin Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
  • N P Singh Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Rajnish Avasthi Professor & Head, Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Keywords: hs-CRP, anti-CCP, RF, RA

Abstract

Objective: Despite the wide availability of markers to diagnose the established disease of RA, there is lack of evidence for the suitability of any of these established biomarkers for diagnosing the disease at an early stage of its pathogenesis. Hs-CRP has the potential to be useful as a predictor of early inflammation in clinically suspected RA cases. Methods: 80 patients (40: anti-CCP positive; 40: anti-CCP negative) irrespective of their age and gender were enrolled. RF status and hs-CRP levels were determined in these patients. Correlation of hs-CRP levels with anti-CCP was done. Results: Mean anti-CCP levels among RF positive and negative cases were 410 U/ml and 62.4 U/ml respectively. Among both the groups of anti-CCP positive and negative patients, majority had hs-CRP levels between 50-60 mg/l. Hs-CRP levels were more than 6 mg/l in majority of the suspected arthritis cases irrespective of the anti-CCP or RF status. Mean hs-CRP levels were 50.8 and 43.6 mg/l among anti-CCP positive and negative cases respectively by unpaired t-test. There was no correlation between serum anti-CCP and hs-CRP levels among both anti-CCP negative and positive cases. Conclusions:  Hs-CRP when used alone or in combination with other established markers, can aid in the early diagnosis, prediction of course of disease and assessment of response to treatment in RA cases.

Author Biographies

Nisha Goyal, Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Krishna Singha, Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
Mohd Tajuddin, Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
N P Singh, Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Rajnish Avasthi, Professor & Head, Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Professor & Head, Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.

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Published
2019-10-01
Section
Original Article

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