ANTIBODIES TO PARVOVIRUS B19 IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background: Parvovirus B19 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatic disorders. Cases of simultaneous development of rheumatic disorders and parvovirus B19 infection have been reported. However, the role of parvovirus B19 infection in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis (PSA) is not known.Objectives: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of antibodies to parvovirus B19 in patients with PSA.Methods: In the study were included 30 patients with PSA, aged 19-58 years, and 30 healthy controls matched for age and sex. In all subjects IgG and IgM antibodies to parvovirus B19 were measured by indirect immunofluorescence. In patients found to be positive for IgM antibodies to parvovirus B19 results were further confirmed by Western blot.Results: In 12 of 30 patients with PSA (40%) and in 10/30 of the controls (33.3%) IgG antibodies to parvovirus B19 were detected (p>0.05, chi square test). In 1 of 30 patients with PSA (3.3%) IgM antibodies to parvovirus B19 were detected and the results were further confirmed by Western blot, while in none of the controls were IgM antibodies observed. In this patient parvovirus B19 was not the initial causative agent for PSA. The patient had been on corticosteroids and low dose methotrexate.Conclusion: The prevalence of antibodies to parvovirus B19 was found to be slightly increased in patients with PSA as compared to controls. It is unlikely that parvovirus B19 is implicated in the pathogenesis of PSA. Parvovirus B19 infection may be related in PSA patients to the immune disregulation induced either by the disease itself or by immunosuppressive therapeutic agents.Citation: , volume , supplement , year 2002, page Session: Spondylarthropathies including psoriatic arthritis 2