| Popis: |
OBJECTIVE: To explore relationships between immunological status, clinical features, radiographic damage, disease activity, and functional disability in Tunisian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in 112 patients with RA. Demographic characteristics, disease duration, disease activity score 28 (DAS28), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and the Sharp/van der Heijde score were collected. Anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti‐CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) were performed. RESULTS: We found that anti‐CCP positivity was associated with longer disease duration (P = 0.001), presence of RF (P = 4.89 × 10(−8)), and night pain positivity (P = 0.025). Patients with positive RF had more night pain and higher anti‐CCP positivity (for all P ≤ 0.05). Anti‐CCP titer was correlated with disease duration (P = 0.034) and Sharp total score (P = 1.2 × 10(−4)). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between RF and anti‐CCP antibodies titers (P = 0.011). Indeed, DAS28 correlated with HAQ (P = 1.8 × 10(−7)) and morning stiffness duration (P = 0.045). In multivariate regression analysis, the main factors associated with anti‐CCP titers were radiographic damage (P = 1.625 × 10(−4)) and RF (P = 0.013). For DAS28, only HAQ (P = 2.9 × 10(−4)) was associated. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that anti‐CCP antibodies are associated with RF and more severe joint damage. Moreover, disease activity is associated with functional disability. |
