Anti-CCP Antibody Levels Are Not Associated with MS: Results from a Case-Control Study

Citrullinated proteins have been suggested to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody is used in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-CCP antibody in patients with MS compared to RA patients and healthy controls. Fifty patients with MS (38 females, 12 males; mean age 36.72 ± 8.82 years), 52 patients with RA (40 females, 12 males; mean age 40.87 ± 10.17 years), and 50 healthy controls (32 females, 18 males; mean age 38.22 ± 11.59 years) were included in this study. The levels of serum anti-CCP antibody were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results of the study showed that anti-CCP antibody levels were significantly higher in RA patients versus MS or healthy controls (P<0.001). Moreover, anti-CCP antibody was positive in 43 (83%) patients with RA, while it was negative in all MS patients as well as in all healthy controls. Also, no significant correlation was found between the anti-CCP levels and EDSS scores (r=-0.250). In conclusion, the results of this study did not support a positive association between serum anti-CCP antibody and MS

The frequency and effect of fibromyalgia in patients with Behcet's disease

Conclusion: Our study results suggest that patients with BD have an increased severity of depression and anxiety, higher frequency of FM, and worsened QoL than healthy individuals. In addition, the presence of FM seems to be related with female sex, longer disease duration, older age, depression, sleep disturbance, and poor QoL in BD patients