Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients may have arthritis in early stages of the disease. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of anti-CCP in SLE patients from Morocco and its association with HLA class II alleles. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (Anti-CCP) were measured using ELISA in 88 SLE patients with and without arthritis. Levels ≥ 25 units/ ml defined a positive test of anti-CCP antibodies. Positive anti-CCP was detected in 8 % of SLE patients whose 85.71% % with arthritis and 14.28% without arthritis. The mean titer of anti-CCP antibodies in the SLE group was 83.75 U/ml. HLA class II alleles typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). We found an increase of HLA-DRB1*04 frequency and decrease of DRB1*07 frequency in SLE patients with anti-CCP positive. In the Moroccan population we demonstrated the presence of high titer of anti-CCP in SLE. Results from our study also identified the frequency of HLA-DRB1*04 allele is increased in SLE with anti-CCP positive.
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