Superantigenic toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in rheumatoid arthritis

الملخص EN

Materials & Methods: The study was performed on 29 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 15 apparently healthy controls.

Clinical and laboratory data relevant to RA disease severity and activity were estimated.

Anterior nasal swabs were obtained from all subjects for isolation of staphylococcus aureus (S.

aureus).

S.

aureus isolates were further tested for toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) production using the reversed passive latex agglutination test.

Sera were collected to estimate IgG antibody level to TSST-1 using (ELISA).

Results: There was increased colonization rate with TSST-1 producing S.

aureus in RA versus controls (31% and 0% respectively).

In addition, there was a statistically significant increase in the mean absorbance value of IgG anti TSST-1 among RA carriers of S.

aureus producing TSST-1 (0.59) versus RA non-carriers of toxigenic strains (0.415) and healthy controls (0.31) (p<0.05).

Moreover, we found a statistically significant association between nasal carriage of TSST-1 producing S.

aureus and variables of disease activity [number of joints affected, duration of morning stiffness (p<0.01 for both) and Ritchie articular index (RAI) and ESR (p<0.05 for both)].

Conclusion: There is an underestimated role of colonization with such strains in aggravating RA disease activity.

However, the precise mechanism by which TSST-1 contributes to the development and progression of arthritis needs further investigation.