Antibodies to Epstein—Barr Viral Antigens in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

✍ Scribed by Stuart L. Silverman; H. Ralph Schumacher

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 332 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780241202

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Antibodies to Epstein—Barr viral (EBV) antigens were studied in 12 patients with early (less than 6 weeks) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared to controls. Geometric mean antibody titers to viral capsid antigen, early antigens, and Epstein—Barr‐associated nuclear antigen (EBNA) were not elevated. Rather, they were comparable to titers in healthy volunteers and in patients with recent onset arthritis (less than 6 weeks) that did not develop into RA. In one patient with early RA, no serologic evidence of prior EBV infection or antibody to rheumatoid arthritis—associated nuclear antigen (RANA) was detected. Anti‐RANA was not seen in all patients with anti‐EBNA. These data do not support a primary role for EBV in the etiology of RA.