A STUDY TO COMPARE CLINICAL FEATURES AND LABORATORY FINDINGS OF SEROPOSITIVE AND SERONEGATIVE CASES OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of marked by a symmetric, peripheral polyarthritis. RA patients who test positive in stated titres either for Rheumatoid factor (RF) / Anti-CCP antibody are classified as sero-positive & who test negative as sero-negative. This study aims to find out the comparison of clinical features & laboratory findings in both cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Methodology: It was cross-sectional study ,conducted in the Rheumatology OPD of Medical College, Kolkata during a period of 1 year among 100 adult literate persons - 50 were diagnosed as seropositive RA (either RF &/or Anti-CCP antibody positive) , other 50 patients were seronegative RA. Both groups were evaluated regarding demographic profile, clinical evaluation, and disease activity.

Results: Distribution of study population regarding joint deformity, Xray and extra articular manifestation showed significance among seropositive and seronegative patients (p significant). Tender and swollen joint count were not significant but ESR and DAS28 score were found to be clinically significant.

Conclusion: This study highlights that seropositive RA patients have higher disease activity, greater joint deformity, X-ray changes & extra-articular manifestations, it also demonstrates the higher preponderance of serious disease (detected clinically & laboratory findings) in seropositive RA patients in Eastern India.