[Persistence of viruses in rheumatoid arthritis]

Humoral and cell-mediated immune response to antigens of hepatitis B (HBsAg and HBeAg), delta-virus, rubella, and measles viruses was studied. Detection in a number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis of HBsAg and HBeAg in blood sera permits a conclusion that productive virus infection is formed in such patients. At the same time in patients with rheumatoid arthritis areactivity of immunocytes to HBsAg and HBeAg was found while marked sensitization of lymphocytes to rubella virus antigens was demonstrated. The patients with rheumatoid arthritis, however, do not develop mere long-term carrier state of hepatitis B virus but form primary chronic hepatitis as a consequence of virus infection. This is indicated by an increase in the level of alanine aminotransferase (1.6 +/- 0.8 mmol/l) and detection of antibody to delta-virus in such patients (28.6%).