Circulating anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody is highly specific for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cigarette smoking is a lifestyle and environmental factor associated with anti-CCP production and is strongly associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study assessed levels of anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) among patients with RA and COPD. The study sample comprised 63 patients with RA and 70 patients with COPD, all of whom underwent assessment of anti-CCP antibody and RF levels. Testing revealed that 54.2 % of RA patients and 0 % of COPD patients were positive for anti-CCP antibodies. Additionally, 82.5 % of RA patients and 42 % of COPD patients were positive for RF. Among RA patients, levels of anti-CCP antibodies were higher among smokers than among nonsmokers (242.7 ± 128.3 vs. 68.1 ± 112.1, P <0.001). COPD patients had low titers of RF but were negative for anti-CCP antibodies. The presence of anti-CCP antibodies was a reliable serologic marker in RA diagnosis and was associated with cigarette smoking.