Herpes may play role in rheumatoid arthritis

August 17, 2005

Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:06 PM BST

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Herpes viruses are associated with

rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study from Spanish

researchers. They are unsure, however, whether the viruses play a

causative role.

Nonetheless, the researchers think it may be worthwhile to monitor

herpes virus DNA levels in RA patients. It would be useful to know if

bumps in the viral load correlate with exacerbations of RA, they add.

For the study, researchers assessed the level of various herpes

viruses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum samples

obtained from about 60 individuals with RA and 75 healthy controls.

Analysis of the PBMC samples revealed that Ebstein-Barr virus DNA was

more commonly found in RA patients than in controls and reached higher

levels. Similar results were obtained for another herpes virus known as

human herpesvirus 6.

Viral infections have long been suspected to have a role in the

development of RA, Dr. B. Fernandez-Guitierrez and colleagues from

Hospital Clinico San in Madrid note in the latest issue of the

ls of the Rheumatic Diseases.

It may be, they write, that the impaired cellular immunity found in RA

patients may simply lead to higher levels of these viruses than is seen

in healthy subjects. Also, RA could make patients prone to infection or

reactivation with these viruses.

" The possible involvement of these herpes viruses in RA should be

investigated further, " the investigators conclude.

SOURCE: ls of Rheumatic Diseases, September 2005.

type=healthNews & storyID=2005-08

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