The role of antibodies to Herpes viridae viruses in rheumatic diseases

Aim. Assay of antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus typ e 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in rheumatic patie nts. Specification of their correlations with clinical symptoms. Materials and methods. 66 rheumatic patients were examined for the above an tibodies. The admission diagnosis of rheumatic disease (RD) was confirmed i n 42 of them. 24 were diagnosed to have active or chronic viral infection ( A/CVI) simulating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other RD. Results. IgG-antibodies to CMV and VCA-IgG to EBV were detected in 79 and 7 0.3% of the examinees, respectively. In SLE more frequent were IgM-antibodi es to CMV (78.9%), in RA - IgM-antibodies to CMV (85.7%) and IgG-antibodies to EBV (85.7%) while in A/CVI - to CMV (IgM - 86.4%), EBV (IgG - 80%; IgM - 73.7%), HSV-1 (IgM - 57.1%). Analysis of clinical correlations indicated that high titers to CMV and to EBV are related in RD patients. Conclusion. It is necessary to examine rheumatic patients for antibodies to Herpes viridae viruses and prescribe antiviral drugs.