viral load in RA

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Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Sep;64(9):1357-9. Related Articles, Links

Potential relationship between herpes viruses and rheumatoid

arthritis: analysis with quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction.

Alvarez-Lafuente R, Fernandez-Gutierrez B, de S, Jover JA,

Rollin R, Loza E, Clemente D, Lamas JR.

Service of Rheumatology, Hospital Clinico San , Profesor

, Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the human herpes viruses,

cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human herpesvirus

6 (HHV-6), are detectable in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear

cells (PBMCs) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: 133

PBMC samples (61 RA, 72 healthy donors) and 136 serum samples (59 RA,

77 healthy donors) were analysed by quantitative real time polymerase

chain reaction for DNA prevalence and viral load of HHV-6, EBV, and

CMV. RESULTS: For PBMC samples significant differences were found for

EBV in DNA prevalence (56% in RA v 33% in controls, p = 0.009) and

viral load (copies/microg DNA 0-592.3 for RA v 0-40.4 for controls, p

= 0.001). For serum samples a significant difference was found for

HHV-6 DNA prevalence (10% in RA v 0% in controls, p = 0.006) and viral

load (copies/microg DNA 0-529.1 for RA v 0 for controls, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: Herpes viruses may have a role in RA, although

alternative explanations are possible: (a) defects in cellular

immunity in patients with RA may result in a relatively high viral

load; ( patients with RA may be more prone to

infection/reactivation. The usefulness of monitoring the DNA viral

load in patients with RA is questioned by these data.

PMID: 16100341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]