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Background and Objective: Previous reports on the effect of treatment on the serum immunologic parameters in patients with infective endocarditis are controversial. This study was conducted to asses the serum levels of CRP (C-reactive protein), RF (rheumatoid factor) and CIC (circulatory immune complex) before and after treatment in patients with infective endocarditis. Materials and Methods: In this discriptive study 30 hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis in Razi Hospital in Ahvaz during 2006. Blood samples obtained before and after treatment. 2.5 cc of each sample were used for CRP and RF and remaining 2.5 cc preserved at -20ºC until CIC examination. CRP and RF were measured by using nephlometry and CIC was detected by immundiffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and t-student test. Results: Out of 30 patients, 26 (86.7%) were male. Mean age was 29.53±10.28years. The mean values of CIC, CRP and RF before and after treatment were 0.847, 72.38, 60.45 and 0.80, 44.1, 41.2, respectively. The means of CRP and RF before and after treatment were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that the serum level of CRP and RF reduce after effective treatments because most of the our patients were intravenous drug user, CRP and RF indeces may be useful measurment for treatment evaluation responses to infective endocarditis in these population.

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Background and Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and chronic disease. Anticitrulinated anticyclic antibody (Anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) are applied for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic value of anticitrulinated cyclic antibody and rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Materials and Methods: This laboratory study was done on 238 affected RF patients and 152 RF symptom free subjects in Gorgan, Iran. Anti-CCP and RF were measured by ELISA and Latex agglutination. Results: Out of 238 patients with rheumatoid arthritis Anti-CCP test was positive in 196 patients, and the sensivity was 82%. In control group, Anti-CCP was positive in 5 cases, and the specificity for RA was 96%. RF test was positive in 206 patients and sensitivity for RF in rheumatoid factor was 86%. In control group, RF was positive in 28 cases and specificity was 81%. Positive RF and Anti-CCP (simultaneously) showed sensitivity as 89%. Conclusion: The specificity of CCP is higher than RF and therefore can be substituted as diagnosis of rheumatoid factor.

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Background and Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory and systemic disease with peripheral, symmetric polyarthritis symptoms. Several genetic, environmental, and immunological factors contribute greatly to the disease pathogenesis. This study was done to evaluate the effect of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti - CCP) and rheumatoid factor on clinical disease activity index (CDAI) in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: This prospective cohort study was done on 64 rheumatoid arthritis patients according to ACR criteria (1978) whom referred to Rheumatology Clinic of Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord, Iran. Patients were clinically examined for primary CDAI and tested for anti - CCP and rheumatoid factor in the prior and six months after the initiation of the study. Results: 81.3% and 74% of the patients had high titers of anti – CCP antibody and positive rheumatoid factor, respectively. A non-significant recudtion was observed in intensity of secondary clinical activity of the disease in compare to primary clinical activity in the patients with high antibody titer. Conclusion: This study indicated the important role of rheumatoid factor and anti- CCP antibody in the on time diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.