Absence of Epstein-Barr virus carrying cells in synovial membranes and subcutaneous nodules of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the Epstein-Barr virus is present in synovial membranes and subcutaneous nodules of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
A sensitive in situ hybridisation technique was applied to tissue sections of 11 synovial membranes and five rheumatoid nodules.


RESULTS
Cells carrying the Epstein-Barr virus were not detected using EBER and BHLF1 oligonucleotides in the tissue samples investigated here.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it has been suggested that the Epstein-Barr virus could play a part in the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis, it was not detected in synovial membranes and subcutaneous lesions in this study.
Brousset
P
P
Laboratoire Central d'Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Purpan, Toulouse, France.
Caulier
M
M
Cantagrel
A
A
Dromer
C
C
Mazières
B
B
Delsol
G
G
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000382:microbiology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000382:microbiology*