GENDER AND AGE-SPECIFIC DISTRIBUTION OF ANTI-CCP ANTIBODIES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder characterized by progressive joint destruction and significant disability. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are highly specific for RA and play a key role in early diagnosis and prognostication. This study aimed to characterize the demographic profile of anti-CCP–positive individuals in a Pakistani population presenting with joint symptoms. Serum samples from 140 participants were analyzed using a commercially available ELISA kit. A distinct age- and gender-related distribution was observed, with male patients clustered exclusively within the 31–60-year age range, while females showed a broader age distribution. These findings highlight the relevance of demographic factors in the clinical profiling of rheumatoid arthritis and support the utility of anti-CCP testing for early diagnosis and risk stratification, particularly in middle-aged males with early inflammatory symptoms and females at younger ages.