title: Joint involvement secondary to Epstein-Barr virus.
abstract: We describe a group of patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and joint involvement. Between February 2011 and January 2012, there were six cases in our unit. Two presented with a pattern similar to rheumatoid arthritis, three had polyarthralgia with an inflammatory pattern and only one patient had asymmetrical oligoarthritis of large joints. They were all women aged between 25 and 75 (4 were of child-bearing potential). Diagnosis in all the cases was made by exclusion of other possible causes and negative IgM were obtained for the rest of the "Herpesviridae" family viruses. In our series, EBV joint involvement was more common in women of childbearing potential. Clinical presentation was heterogeneous but was predominantly in the form of inflammatory joint pain. When it presents in the form of symmetrical polyarthritis, it can become chronic and require the use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España. Electronic address: carlosfeced@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos Manuel
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Feced Olmos
authors.affiliation: Sección de Reumatología, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova , Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández Matilla
authors.affiliation: Sección de Reumatología, Hospital Peset , Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robustillo Villarino
authors.affiliation: Sección de Reumatología, Hospital Peset , Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de la Morena Barrio
authors.affiliation: Sección de Reumatología, Hospital Peset , Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alegre Sancho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Arthritis; Artritis; Epstein Barr virus; Virus de Epstein Barr