biostudies-literatureFechtner SBLRD VANIAID NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthNIAMS NIH HHSU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsNIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHS597-603https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8957485biostudies-literatureUnknown74(4)<h4>Objective</h4>Patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) demonstrate altered immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but the presence and roles of EBV have not been fully explored during the pre-clinical disease period. This study was undertaken to determine if EBV infection, as evidenced by an altered anti-EBV antibody response, either plays an important role in driving the development of RA or is a result of expanded RA-related autoimmunity.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 83 subjects with RA according to the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 83 age-, sex-, and race-matched control subjects without RA were included in our study. We collected sera from RA subjects and matched controls during the pre-RA and post-RA diagnosis periods and tested the sera fArthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)Antibody Responses to Epstein-Barr Virus in the Preclinical Period of Rheumatoid Arthritis Suggest the Presence of Increased Viral Reactivation Cycles.PMC8957485U54 GM104938UM1 AI144292U01‐AI‐101981I01BX001834R01‐AI‐24727P30‐A‐073750I01 BX001834UM1‐AI‐144292T32 AI074491P30 AR073750U01 AI101981R01 AI024717R01-AI-24727T32‐AI‐074491Holers VMCarlson NEJames JADeane KDJohnson RLRobinson WHNorris JABerens HGuthridge CJEdison JDDemoruelle MKHarley JBFechtner SBemis EfalseAntibody Responses to Epstein-Barr Virus in the Preclinical Period of Rheumatoid Arthritis Suggest the Presence of Increased Viral Reactivation Cycles.<h4>Objective</h4>Patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) demonstrate altered immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but the presence and roles of EBV have not been fully explored during the pre-clinical disease period. This study was undertaken to determine if EBV infection, as evidenced by an altered anti-EBV antibody response, either plays an important role in driving the development of RA or is a result of expanded RA-related autoimmunity.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 83 subjects with RA according to the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 83 age-, sex-, and race-matched control subjects without RA were included in our study. We collected sera from RA subjects and matched controls during the pre-RA and post-RA diagnosis periods and tested the sera f2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Apr2025-04-19T23:47:58.212Z2025-04-19T23:47:58.212ZS-EPMC89574853460521710.1002/art.41994