ABSTRACT
To detect serum and synovial fluid anti-CCP antibodies in psoriatic arthritis patients [PsA] as compared to rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and psoriasis [Ps] patients. Anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor [RF] were measured in the serum of 30 patients with RF negative PsA, 30 patients with RA, 30 patients with Ps and 20 sex and age matched healthy controls. Synovial fluid anti-CCP antibodies were also measured in 10 patients with PsA and 12 RA patients having synovitis and knee effusion. Two out of thirty patients [6.66%] with PsA, 28/30 [93%] with RA, none [0%] of patients with psoriasis without arthritis, or healthy controls had serum anti-CCP antibodies above the cut off level. All patients with PsA with positive anti-CCP antibodies had polyarthritis. Anti-CCP Abs were detected in the synovial fluid in 1/10 [10%] of patients with PsA with knee effusion and in 11/12 [91.6%] of patients with RA with knee effusions. RF was positive in 85% of RA patients and negative in all patients with PsA. Anti-CCP antibodies may be present in patients with psoriatic arthritis in both serum and synovial fluid. Patients with psoriatic arthritis positive for anti-CCP antibodies more often had poly articular disease, more severe disease and erosive changes. Anti-CCP antibodies in both serum and synovial fluid were more prevalent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in patients with psoriatic arthritis while it was negative in serum of patients with psoriasis without arthritis