Study of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective

To study the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients on disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy. Study Design: Cross sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine (CREAM-I), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with Reumatology Department, Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Jan 2016 to Jun 2016. Material and Methods: Study sample was seventy in number and was divided into two groups. Group I consisted of thirty five patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, while group II consisted of thirty five healthy individuals who were not suffering from any chronic illness. Non probability purposive sampling was done. ESR was measured using Westergren method, while anti-CCP was estimated by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA).