ETIOLOGIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUVENILE R HEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS AND CHRONIC COXSACKIE-VIRUS INFECTION

Coxsackie group enteroviruses, mainly Coxsackie A13 virus, were detect ed in involved joints of 76% children with rheumatoid arthritis, adeno viruses (mainly adenovirus 5) in 68%, and rubella virus in 52%. Mixed virus infection was diagnosed in 80% patients. At least one of the abo ve viruses was detected in 23 out of 25 examinees (92%). The authors d iscuss the contribution of different viruses to the etiology of juveni le rheumatoid arthritis and consider that chronic Coxsackie virus infe ction is the most probable primary etiological factor of this disease.