MYCOPLASMAS AND ARTHRITIDES

Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases might be triggered by infectious agents, We have reviewed the evidence suggesting that my coplasmas may play a role in the genesis of arthritis, Mycoplasmas are a common cause of spontaneous arthritis in many animal species, Numer ous experimental models of mycoplasma-induced arthritis have been deve loped, some with mycoplasmas known to cause disease in humans, Mycopla smas entertain complex relationships with the immune system of their h osts and frequently induce autoimmune events such as rheumatoid factor production, However, the potential role of mycoplasmas in human joint disease remains unknown, Mycoplasmas can be responsible for septic ar thritis in patients with immune deficiencies, especially hypogammaglob ulinemia. Whether mycoplasmas can incite or perpetuate inflammatory jo int diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis remains controversial, Advan ces in molecular biology techniques for detecting infectious agents ca n be expected to settle this issue in the near future.