Cytomegalovirus : a possible trigger factor for vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis

الملخص EN

The study included 26 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and ten healthy subjects as controls.

Essential laboratory and serological tests were done.

Also the level of human cytomegalovirus antibodies (IgG & IgM) was determined to find the role of this virus in the expression of the clinical features of the disease.

Also nail fold capillaroscopy and ANCA were done for early detection of vasculitis.

Patients were grouped into two groups according to the level of IgG antibody against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV).

Group I included patients with antibody levels less than 500 AU/ml while group II had an antibody level above 500 AU/ml.

Patients belonging to the second group had a higher number of active joints which was of statistical significance and had lower hemoglobin level which was of a highly significant value.

Also, the number of active disease in patients of the second group was higher than that in the first group, the difference being of statistical significance.

The level of IgG antibody correlated with P-ANCA level.

The above results denote that infection with HCMV may have a role in the pathogenesis and the clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis.