Detection of nDNA antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients by an immunofluorescent technique

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to focus on the relationship of nDNA antibodies with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine the specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of nDNA for the clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. The study included a total of 40 rheumatoid arthritis cases that fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnosis criteria for rheumatoid arthritis as well as 40 age and sex matched controls. Agglutination technique was used for qualitative and semi-quantitative measure of rheumatoid factor (RF) and indirect immunofluorescence assay was employed for the determination of anti-nDNA antibodies. RF latex agglutination test was carried out to confirm RA cases, out of which four (10%) turned out to be negative, so only 36 RA cases were further investigated and analyzed through indirect immunofluorescence assay. Out of 36 individuals, 31 (86%) were negative, three (8.3%) were strong positive and two (5.5%) were weak positive. No significant association was found between nDNA antibodies and rheumatoid arthritis disease.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, anti-native DNA antibodies, immunofluorescence assay, sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value.

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(38) 3943-3949