Viruses are common and are involved in the etiology of idiopathic rheumatological diseases. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a member of the family Hepadnaviridae and hepatitis C virus (HCV), play an important role in the undetermined etiology of arthritis. The clinical manifestations of hepatitis B and C show similarities with various diseases, such as rheumatic diseases. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) is a specific serological marker for rheumatoid arthritis.
The aim of this study was to analyze anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels in patients with a hepatitis B and C infection.
Forty-four patients with hepatitis B, 43 patients with hepatitis C, 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 46 healthy control serums and their RF and anti-CCP levels were compared. RF was measured by the nephelometer, which detects IgM-RF. Anti-CCP was measured using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that is included in the second-generation anti-CCP antibody assays (anti-CCP2).
The anti-CCP positivity levels were 20.5%, 32.5%, 72.4% and 10.9% for HBV, HCV and RA groups and healthy control group, respectively. When the groups were compared based on their RF positivity and anti-CCP positivity while the values for HBV and HCV group and healthy control group were the same, in RA group there is a significant difference to the rest of the groups (p < 0.01).
Anti-CCP may be positive for HBV and HCV as well, but it is a sensitive and specific immunological marker for RA diagnosis, especially in high-titres.