Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan infection caused by an intracellular obligatory protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. Infection to this parasite in immunocompetent patients is usually asymptomatic, but today it is believed that the infection can be a risk factor for a variety of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease and the most common type of inflammatory arthritis that is a major cause of disability. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to address the association between RA and toxoplasmosis in light of the available research.

Methods

Based on the keywords, a systematic search of eight databases was conducted to retrieve the relevant English-language articles. Then, the studies were screened based on the inclusion

SUBMITTER: Hosseininejad Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6003687 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature