ANTIBODIES TO PARVOVIRUS B19 IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Background: Parvovirus B19 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Cases of simultaneous development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and parvovirus B19 infection have been reported. However, the role of parvovirus B19 infection in the pathogenesis of SLE is not known.Objectives: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of antibodies to parvovirus B19 in patients with SLE.Methods: In the study were included 32 patients with SLE, aged 21-54 years, and 32 healthy controls matched for age and sex. The patients fulfilled the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology for the diagnosis of SLE. 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 15 of 32 patients with SLE (46.9%) and in 7/32 of the controls (21.9%) IgG antibodies to parvovirus B19 were detected (p<0.05, chi square test). In 1 of 32 patients with SLE (3.1%) 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 SLE. However, B19 infection was followed by a severe flare of SLE.Conclusion: The prevalence of antibodies to parvovirus B19 was found to be increased in patients with SLE as compared to controls. However, it is unlikely that parvovirus B19 is implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE. Parvovirus B19 infection may lead to the exacerbation of the disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.Citation: , volume , supplement , year 2002, page Session: SLE – Etiology and pathogenesis/Animal models