Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the abatacept treatment in terms of effectiveness in patients with seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials and Methods: Patients with RA who received abatacept treatment at Firat University Department of Rheumatology between 2014 and 2017, diagnosed according to the 2010 American Rheumatology Association criteria, were included in the study. Those with RF and/or anti-CCP auto-antibody positivity were grouped as seropositive RA, those with RF and/or anti-CCP auto-antibody negativity were grouped as seronegative RA. DAS 28-CRP, CDAI, HAQ and VAS scores, and laboratory data were evaluated, retrospectively.

Results: 37.1%(n=13) RF negativity and 62.9%(n=22) RF positivity were found in patients using abatacept. In patients, anti-CCP was negative in 34.2% (n=12), and anti-CCP was positive in 65.8% (n=23) The total number of patients who continued with abatacept treatment was 57.1% (n=20). While the abatacept retention rate was 59.1% in RF positive patients, this rate was 53.8% in RF negative patients (P=0.762). While the abatacept retention rate was 70% in anti-CCP positive patients, this rate was 50% in anti-CCP negative patients (P=0.284). The effect of seropositivity on the abatacept retention rate of treatment was not statistically significant. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of DAS28-CRP, CDAI, VAS-pain, VAS-global, VAS-physician, and HAQ scores.

Conclusion: In our study, the effectiveness of abatacept therapy was found to be similar in seropositive and seronegative RA patients.