Investigation Of Parvovirus B19 Antibodies In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritic symptoms are frequent in patients infected with viruses. Parvovirus B19 may affect any joint and cause arthritis. It was reported that arthropathy associated with B19 infections resembles the diagnostic criteria of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or juvenile arthritis. This study was aimed to determine the frequency of human parvovirus B19 infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 114 patients diagnosed RA according to criteria of American College of Rheumatology and 46 healthy people were included in control group in this study. Parvovirus B19 antibodies were detected by Enzyme Immunoassay method by Ridascreen parvovirus IgM and IgG kits. Parvovirus B19 IgM was detected in 15 of 114 (13.2%) patients with acute arthropathy and 6 of 46 (13%) healthy control group. Parvovirus B19 IgG was determined in 85 of 114 (74.5%) patients with RA and 29 of 46 (63%) control group. The frequency of parvovirus B19 infection in patients with RA as compared with control groups was not statistically significant. So parvovirus B19 might be only a contributing and/or associated factor with RA etiology.