VALIDITY OF ANTI-CCP ANTIBODIES AS MAJOR IMMUNOLOGICAL MARKER OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS IN THI-QARPROVINCE IRAQ

The aim of the study to determine the level of anti- cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (ACCPA) of rheumatoid arthritis ( RA). Establishing profile and to ensure validity of (ACCPA) in diagnosis rheumatoid arthritis. This study including 88 cases, patients as 48 (female 17 and 33 male)with rheumatoid arthritis whose follow- up was carried out at the outpatient clinic of the rheumatology unit Al-Hussein General Teaching Hospital, Thi-Qar province, Iraq. Patients and control were divided into four subgroups based on the characteristic of smoking. The control group include 40 at the same hospital for no inflammatory diseases. We determined the plasmatic level of anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (ACCPA). In comparison to controls, patients with rheumatoid arthritis presented high concentrations of anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (ACCPA) with high significant difference (P?0.001). (determine by plasmatic level ), the results also demonstrated the higher concentration found to be in (21-40) age group its mean (0.3670±0.229)(P?0.001) and the lowest concentrations found be in (1-21) years group, its mean (0.111±0.0215). Also not shown significantly difference between male and female groups. Our results indicate the presence relationship between smoking habit and rheumatoid arthritis and the age range 21-40 more susceptible to be effected.