Intraindividual Changes in Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Tests in Korean Patients Visiting Local Clinics and Hospitals

Limited data are available on test utilization and intraindividual changes in rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) in Korean patients that visit local clinics and hospitals. We retrospectively reviewed longitudinally measured RF and anti-CCP data in Korean patients to investigate the utilization and changes in test results through a laboratory information system. During the 10-year study period, 256,259 specimens were tested for RF. Among them, 32,567 (12.7%) specimens from 31,110 Korean adults had simultaneously measured anti-CCP results. Among them, 1110 (3.6%) subjects had follow-up test results. Among 351 patients with initial positive RF results, 290 (82.6%) had no qualitative change in RF from positive to negative values during follow-up. About 3.8% (29/759) of patients with initial negative results experienced qualitative changes in RF that were positive on follow-up. Among 182 patients with an anti-CCP-positive result at initial measurement, 174 (95.6%) had no qualitative change in anti-CCP from positive to negative or equivocal results during follow-up. About 0.5% (5/928) of patients with initial negative values experienced qualitative changes in anti-CCP to positive values on follow-up. The agreement of qualitative results between RF and anti-CCP was 80.8% (95% confidence interval 78.4–83.1%) at initial measurement and 80.6% (95% confidence interval 79.0–82.1%) overall. The results of this study can help inform utilization of RF and anti-CCP testing for Korean patients visiting local clinics and hospitals.