title: [Clinical study on antibodies against EBV in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Study on the relationship between the infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The IgA and IgG antibodies against EBV capsid antigen (IgA/VCA and IgG/VCA respectively), and anti-Z protein IgG antibodies (IgG/Z) in the sera from the patients with RA, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and normal controls were detected by using indirect immunofluoresence and immunobloting techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of IgA/VCA antibody in the serum of RA patients which was significantly higher than that in SLE patients and normal subjects. The anti IgG/Z antibodies were only found in RA patients with IgA/VCA antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that activated EB virus may play a role in the pathogenesis of RA. It is a useful laboratory method for the clinical diagnosis of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS & PUMC, Beijing 100730.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins