ABSTRACT
Aim of Work: To investigate the value of the detection of antibodies against modified citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in comparison with anti-CCP2-for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and Methods: The study Included Forty patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They under went assessment by the disease activity score (DAS-28), visual analogue scale (VAS) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). Thirty healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as a control group. Blood samples were obtained from patients and controls for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF). Anti-CCP2 and anti-MCV were determined using ELISA technique. Results: Estimated serum levels of anti-CCP2 and anti-MCV were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations between anti-MCV levels and age, dis- ease duration, duration of morning stiffness, number of swollen and tender joints, HAQ or ESR in patients with RA, while serum levels correlates significantly with DAS28, VAS and CRP (p < 0.05). Anti-CCP2 correlates significantly with DAS28, VAS and CRP and ANA (p < 0.05). Serum anti-MCV and anti-CCP2 were significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.483; p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and it showed that anti-MCV had diagnostic specificity, sensitivity of 93.3%, 75.5%, respectively, while anti-CCP2 specificity, sensitivity of 98.1%, 85%, respectively. Conclusion: Serum anti-MCV as well as the anti-CCP-2 assay perform comparably well in the diagnosis of RA. In the high-specificity range, however, the anti-CCP2 assay appears to be superior to the anti-MCV test.