Serum anti-MCV antibody and its correlation with disease activity in local Pakistani rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objective: to investigate the correlation of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin [anti-MCV] titers with clinical manifestations and disease activity in a cohort of patients with established diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Material and Methods: a total of 58 patients attending the rheumatology outpatient department of Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore were recruited in the study. Data of disease related parameters such as disease duration, medications, degree of pain [visual analog scale, VAS], disease activity score 28 [DAS 28], and health assessment questionnaire [HAQ] were recorded. Laboratory work up included erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR>20mm/hr considered positive], rheumatoid factor [determined by ELISA technique], anti-CCP antibody [ELISAlmmco Diagnostics, USA] and anti-MCVantibody [Cusabio Biotech Co. , Ltd, China]

Results: the anti-MCV antibody levels did correlate with the number of tender joints [p=0.001 ], swollen joints [p=0.001 ], VAS [p=0.330], ESR [p=0.001 ], DAS28 scores [p=0.001 ]. However, no significant correlation of anti MCV titers with HAQ scores [p=0.090] and anti-CCP titers [p=0.685] and serum RF titers [p=0 .621] was observed

Conclusion: in Significant correlation was noticed between the serum anti-MCV antibody titers and DAS-28 and other disease activity parameters besides HAQ-D and anti-CCP and RF titers

Comparison of serum ANTl·MUTATED citrullinated vimentin antibody with ANTl·CYCLIC citrullinated peptide antibody as a diagnostic marker in local Pakistani rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objective: to compare the diagnostic value of antibodies against mutated citrullinated vimentin [anti-MCV] and antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides [anti-CCP] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Material and Methods: a total of 88 subjects were included in the study, comprising of 58 known patients of rheumatoid arthritis [fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology Criteria].Thirty age and sex matched normal healthy volunteers were included as controls in the study. Sera of all study subjects were tested by Elisa for presence of anti-MCV and anti-CCP antibodies

Results: the sensitivity and specificity of serum anti CCP antibodies for RA was calculated to be 58.6% and 86. 7% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of serum anti MCV antibodies for RA was calculated to be 34.5% and 70.6% respectively at the manufacturer's cutoff value of 25U/L

Conclusion: anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies have higher sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of RA as compared to anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies