ANTIBODIES TO CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background: Immunological agents may be implicated in the pathogenesis of arthritis. Viral DNA was detected in the synovial fluid in the initial stages of arthritis of varied aetiology. Cytomegalovirus DNA has been detected in the synovial fluid of patients with arthritis.Objectives: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of antibodies to cytomegalovirus in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: In the study were included 50 patients with RA, 36 women and 14 men, aged 25-72 years and 50 healthy controls matched for age and sex. In patients and controls IgG and IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus were detected by ELISA.Results: In 44 of 50 patients with RA IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus were detected (88%). In 42 of the controls antibodies to cytomegalovirus were observed (84%) (p>0.05, chi square test). In 1 of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus were detected, while in none of the controls were anti-cytomegalovirus IgM antibodies found. In this patient cytomegalovirus infection was not an initiating factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The patient had already been on low-dose methotrexate and corticosteroids.Conclusion: A high prevalence of past infection with cytomegalovirus was detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in healthy controls. In one of the patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis signs of active infection with cytomegalovirus were found. Active cytomegalovirus infection has been previously reported in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis on low-dose methotrexate therapy. These results indicate that cytomegalovirus infection is unlikely to be implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. However, active cytomegalovirus infection may occur in the setting of rheumatoid arthritis possibly as a result of the dysregulation of the immune system.Citation: , volume , supplement , year 2002, page Session: Cartilage in bone biology and pathophysiology