Predictive Clinical Value of Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies as Diagnostic Tools in Cases with Non-Arthritic Chronic Hepatitis C Viral Disease

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic immunological disease that causes destruction and deformity of joints. Chronic hepatitis C infection cases could develop rheumatic like clinical presenting profile. Raised rheumatoid factor in chronic HCV infection considerably reduces the diagnostic privilege of rheumatoid factor for rheumatoid arthritis coexisting with HCV infection. Aim of the work: To determine the value of anti-citrullinated protein antibody levels in cases having chronic HCV infection in comparison to rheumatoid factor. Methodology: The research team recruited 150 non-arthritic study subjects having chronic hepatitis C virus infection rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibody levels were assayed for all study subjects for statistical analysis. Results: Rheumatoid factor +ve study subjects had statistically significantly more frequent within female gender. (p value=0.027) Rheumatoid factor high +ve cases had statistically significantly had more frequent fatty liver and higher platelets than on high RF +ve cases. (P value =0.020, <0.038 consecutively) Conclusion: HCV cases with joint involvement were not implemented in the current research study that prevented statistical estimation of the sensitivity of anti-citrullinated protein antibody for arthritis in this cohort. Racial and ethnic differences should be put in consideration in future research studies that are recommended to be multi centric in fashion.