RESEARCH - Potential relationship between herpes viruses (Epstein-Barr) and RA

[Guest guest]

Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Sep;64(9):1357-9.

Potential relationship between herpes viruses and rheumatoid arthritis:

analysis with quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction.

Alvarez-Lafuente R, Fernandez-Gutierrez B, de S, Jover JA, Rollin R,

Loza E, Clemente D, Lamas JR.

Service of Rheumatology, Hospital Clinico San , Profesor , Lagos

s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the human herpes viruses, cytomegalovirus

(CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), are

detectable in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of

patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: 133 PBMC samples (61 RA,

72 healthy donors) and 136 serum samples (59 RA, 77 healthy donors) were

analysed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction for DNA

prevalence and viral load of HHV-6, EBV, and CMV. RESULTS: For PBMC samples

significant differences were found for EBV in DNA prevalence (56% in RA v

33% in controls, p = 0.009) and viral load (copies/microg DNA 0-592.3 for RA

v 0-40.4 for controls, p = 0.001). For serum samples a significant

difference was found for HHV-6 DNA prevalence (10% in RA v 0% in controls, p

= 0.006) and viral load (copies/microg DNA 0-529.1 for RA v 0 for controls,

p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: Herpes viruses may have a role in RA, although alternative

explanations are possible: (a) defects in cellular immunity in patients with

RA may result in a relatively high viral load; ( patients with RA may be

more prone to infection/reactivation. The usefulness of monitoring the DNA

viral load in patients with RA is questioned by these data.

PMID: 16100341

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=16100341

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org