PERSISTENCE OF PARVOVIRUS B19 IN SYNOVIAL-FLUID AND BONE-MARROW

Objectives-To determine whether parvovirus B19 (B19) persists in rheum atoid arthritis (RA). Methods-Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect parvovirus B19 genome in the synovial fluid cells or periph eral blood mononuclear cells from 61 patients with early RA; bone marr ow from one patient was also studied. The synovium or synovial fluid c ells from 28 patients with advanced RA, and synovial fluid cell sample s from 18 patients with reactive arthritis (as controls) were studied. Two separate sets of primers and probe were used. Results-Parvovirus B19 specific gene sequences were detected in two patients with early a rthritis fulfilling the criteria for RA. Conclusion-Parvovirus B19 doe s not play a significant role in the aetiopatho-genesis of RA. However , a few cases of a disease indistinguishable from RA may be triggered by parvovirus B19 infection.