title: Occasional presence of herpes viruses in synovial fluid and blood from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.
abstract: Viral agents have been suspected as participants of immune-mediated disorders. In the case of rheumatic diseases, the synovial joint cavity represents a secluded area of inflammation which could harbor etiological agents. We analyzed by polymerase chain reaction the possible presence of DNA from various herpes viruses in blood and synovial fluid from patients with either rheumatoid arthritis (n = 18), axial spondyloarthritis (n = 11), or osteoarthritis (n = 8). Relevant findings were as follows: DNA from varicella zoster virus was found in synovial fluid but not in blood mononuclear cells from 33 % of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 45 % of patients with axial spondyloarthritis but not in patients with osteoarthritis. Also, DNA from herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 was found both in the blood and in the synovial fluid from 33 % of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Our results indicate the occasional presence of DNA from herpes viruses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or with axial spondyloarthritis. However, these findings might represent a parallel epiphenomenon of viral activation associated either with immunosuppressive therapy or with primary immune disturbances, rather than the etiological participation of herpes viruses in these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, Hospital General de Mexico, Dr. Balmis 148, 06720, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burgos
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, Insurgentes sur 3877, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ordoñez
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, Hospital General de Mexico, Dr. Balmis 148, 06720, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Janitzia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Mellado
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, Insurgentes sur 3877, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Benjamín
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, Insurgentes sur 3877, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico. jsotelo@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotelo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000821:virology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Herpes simplex viruses; Varicella zoster virus; Viruses in axial spondyloarthritis; Viruses in rheumatoid arthritis; Viruses in synovial fluid