INFREQUENT DETECTION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS DNA INSYNOVIAL-MEMBRANE OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective, To study the role of the cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Bar r virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and 2), varic ella tester virus (VZV), and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) in the etiol ogy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods, Polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) was used to detect DNA of the different herpesviruses in synovial membranes from 31 patients with chronic RA and 14 control patients. S pecific antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA. Results, Out of 31 patients with RA, CMV DNA was detected in sy novial membranes from 2 patients and EBV DNA was detected in synovial membranes from 2 other patients. All samples from the patients with RA were negative for DNA from HSV-1 and 2, VZV, and HHV-6. All samples f rom the 14 control patients were negative in all PCR assays. No statis tically significant differences in IgG antibodies were found for CMV, HSV-I, VZV, and HHV-6 in patients with RA compared to controls. Higher titers of IgG antibodies against EBV viral capsid antigen were found in patients with RA, with a significance of p < 0.05. Conclusion, Both CMV and EBV DNA were detected in synovial membranes from 6% of the pa tients with RA. We cannot exclude the possibility that these viruses w ere associated with disease development in a minority of patients with RA.