REVIEW - RA is an autoimmune disease triggered by Proteus urinary tract infection

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Clin Dev Immunol. 2006 Mar;13(1):41-8.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease triggered by Proteus urinary

tract infection.

Ebringer A, Rashid T.

School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK.

alan.ebringer@...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and disabling polyarthritic disease,

which affects mainly women in middle and old age. Extensive evidence based

on the results of various microbial, immunological and molecular studies

from different parts of the world, shows that a strong link exists between

Proteus mirabilis microbes and RA. We propose that sub-clinical Proteus

urinary tract infections are the main triggering factors and that the

presence of molecular mimicry and cross-reactivity between these bacteria

and RA-targeted tissue antigens assists in the perpetuation of the disease

process through production of cytopathic auto-antibodies. Patients with RA

especially during the early stages of the disease could benefit from Proteus

anti-bacterial measures involving the use of antibiotics, vegetarian diets

and high intake of water and fruit juices such as cranberry juice in

addition to the currently employed treatments.

PMID: 16603443

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

ct & list_uids=16603443

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