OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and specificity of anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to evaluate the effect of immune reconstitution on these markers. METHODS: Patients with advanced HIV infection without arthritis were enrolled. CD4+ T lymphocyte counts (CD4), anti-CCP, and RF were determined before initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) and repeated after 6 months. Results were compared to those of healthy controls. Patients were followed for the development of RA for 1 year. RESULTS: Sixty patients and 26 controls were studied. Six-month followup results were available on 49 patients. Mean (SD) levels of anti-CCP were higher in patients with HIV compared to controls: respectively, 9.50 (11.41) versus 0.80 (1.32) units (p < 0.001). Mean (SD) levels decreased to 4.85 (8.12) units (p = 0.006) after 6 months of ART (HIV-infected group). Fifteen percent of patients initially tested positive for anti-CCP, 4% after 6 months versus no controls (p = 0.031). Forty-seven percent of patients initially tested positive for RF, 18% after 6 months versus 8% of controls (p < 0.001). Decreases in RF and anti-CCP after ART were accompanied by increased mean (SD) CD4: from 129 (56) to 278 (140) cells/mm(3) (p < 0.001). Anti-CCP and RF positivity was not associated with the development of RA. CONCLUSION: Increased titers of anti-CCP and RF occur in advanced HIV infection. Although more specific than RF, before immune reconstitution, anti-CCP is an unreliable diagnostic marker for RA and does not necessarily predict future RA. After immune reconstitution, the specificity of anti-CCP approaches that of a control group.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and specificity of anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to evaluate the effect of immune reconstitution on these markers. METHODS:Patients with advanced HIV infection without arthritis were enrolled. CD4+ T lymphocyte counts (CD4), anti-CCP, and RF were determined before initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) and repeated after 6 months. Results were compared to those of healthy controls. Patients were followed for the development of RA for 1 year. RESULTS: Sixty patients and 26 controls were studied. Six-month followup results were available on 49 patients. Mean (SD) levels of anti-CCP were higher in patients with HIV compared to controls: respectively, 9.50 (11.41) versus 0.80 (1.32) units (p < 0.001). Mean (SD) levels decreased to 4.85 (8.12) units (p = 0.006) after 6 months of ART (HIV-infected group). Fifteen percent of patients initially tested positive for anti-CCP, 4% after 6 months versus no controls (p = 0.031). Forty-seven percent of patients initially tested positive for RF, 18% after 6 months versus 8% of controls (p < 0.001). Decreases in RF and anti-CCP after ART were accompanied by increased mean (SD) CD4: from 129 (56) to 278 (140) cells/mm(3) (p < 0.001). Anti-CCP and RF positivity was not associated with the development of RA. CONCLUSION: Increased titers of anti-CCP and RF occur in advanced HIV infection. Although more specific than RF, before immune reconstitution, anti-CCP is an unreliable diagnostic marker for RA and does not necessarily predict future RA. After immune reconstitution, the specificity of anti-CCP approaches that of a control group.
Authors: Chris T Longenecker; Emmy Okello; Peter Lwabi; Marco A Costa; Daniel I Simon; Robert A Salata Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2014-02-01 Impact factor: 3.731