To study persistence in blood mononuclear leukocytes (ML) of Herpesviridae viruses (cytomegalovirus-CMV, herpes virus of type I and II, Epstein-Barr virus-EBV, hepatitis B and C viruses, Mycoplasma arthritidis-Ma,, Mycoplasma fermentans-Mf, Ureaplasma urealiticum-U, Chlamydia trachomatis-Ct).
56 patients with debut of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 30 healthy persons were examined using methods of direct and indirect immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay.
In patients with early RA persistence of infective agents in blood ML was found high (67.9%). Persistence of the viruses was studied for 1.5-2 years. Features of the clinical course of the disease were specified for various infective agents: seronegativeness in persistence of Ma, Mf and U, high activity and frequent development of systemic manifestations of RA in persistence of Herpesviridae viruses, rapid progression of bone destruction in persistence of Ct.
Carriage of Herpesviridae was associated with high activity of inflammatory process, of chlamydia--with rapid bone destruction, of mycoplsma and ureaplasma--with unchanged rate of progression. Eradication of Herpes viruses, CMV, EBV and CT is indicated.