Absence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA can be detected in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
The polymerase chain reaction was applied to cellular components of synovial fluid.


RESULTS
No evidence of M tuberculosis DNA was found in synovial fluid from 31 patients with RA and 13 control patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings do not support a role for persistent M tuberculosis infection in the pathogenesis of RA.
Jalal
H
H
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
Millar
M
M
Linton
C
C
Dieppe
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000382:microbiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000382:microbiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial