The microbiology of chronic inflammatory arthritis: an historical review.
Tissues from patients with RA have always been subject to close microbiological scrutiny in attempts to determine the pathogenesis of joint inflammation. This paper presents an historical review of micro-organisms isolated from patients with chronic RA dating from the early days of microbiology in the late 19th century until the present day. The relevance of these findings is discussed in the light of current hypotheses concerning the role of infection in the aetiology of RA.
Hughes
R A
RA
Department of Rheumatology, St Peter's Hospital Trust, Chertsey, Surrey.
D001168:Arthritis / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005060:Europe; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States