Epstein-Barr virus in bone marrow of rheumatoid arthritis patients predicts response to rituximab treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Viruses may contribute to RA. This prompted us to monitor viral load and response to anti-CD20 therapy in RA patients.

Methods

Blood and bone marrow from 35 RA patients were analysed for CMV, EBV, HSV-1, HSV-2, parvovirus B19 and polyomavirus using real-time PCR before and 3 months after rituximab (RTX) treatment and related to the levels of autoantibodies and B-cell depletion. Clinical response to RTX was defined as decrease in the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS-28) >1.3 at 6 months.

Results

Before RTX treatment, EBV was identified in 15 out of 35 patients (EBV-positive group), of which 4 expressed parvovirus. Parvovirus was further detected in eight patients (parvo-positive group). Twelve patients were negative for the analysed viruses. Following RT

SUBMITTER: Magnusson M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2936947 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature