Disease activity and its correlation with anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies and other factors in rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives: Our aim was to determine the disease activity (DAS28) and its correlation with anti-Mutated Citrullinated Vimentin antibody (anti-MCV) positivity and other factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, Saudis and non-Saudis. And to compare Disease Activity measurements using ESR (DAS28-ESR) and CRP (DAS28-CRP). Patients and methods: Retrospectively, data were obtained by files' reviewing, for a period of seven years (2007-2014), at king Abdulaziz university hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Disease Activity Scores were assessed by DAS28-ESR (104 patients), and together with DAS28-CRP (36 patients). One hundred and four (104) files had complete data for our objectives. Results: DAS28-ESR was high [6 (SD=3)] among non-Saudi patients, moderate among Saudis [4.3 (SD=1.7)] and the total cohort [4.8(SD=2.3]); with significant differences (P=0.000; R-2=11.3%) between Saudi and non-Saudi patients for DAS28. In a linear regression and by correlation analysis; the variables (Sex, age, age-group, anti-MCV positivity) showed no correlations with DAS28, neither for Saudis nor for non-Saudis. Eighty one (81) patients had data concerning presence of comorbid conditions; 34/81(42%) were with comorbid conditions. There was no significant correlation between presence of comorbid condition and disease activity neither for the total cohort (P=0.75) nor for Saudis (P=0.65) and non-Saudis (P=0.70). Conclusion and recommendation: In both Saudi and non-Saudi RA-patients, disease activity can neither be assessed by anti-MCV positivity nor correlated with, comorbidity, sex, age and age groups. DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP were significantly correlated. A larger scale study is recommended.