ELEVATED CYTOKINE LEVELS IN SYNOVIAL-FLUID OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS CORRELATES WITH THE PRESENCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS GENOME

Synovial fluid aspirated from 34 patients with symptomatic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was evaluated for the presence of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) genomic material using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and IL-6 using enzyme-linked immunoadso rbence assay. IL-8 and; IL-6 levels were significantly higher in CMV D NA-positive RA patients than CMV DNA-negative RA patients and at least 10-fold higher than in both corresponding control groups of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). These findings suggest an association betwee n elevated IL-8 and IL-6 levels and the presence of the CMV genome in RA patients.