[Viral infection and rheumatic diseases]

13 patients with generalized hyperergic vasculitides and 20 patients with rheumatism were examined for antibodies against antigens of viruses of hepatitis B and C. In the majority of patients with vasculitides and almost half of those with rheumatism, there have been revealed antibodies against antigens of hepatitis B or C. These findings allow some judgement about importance of viral infection in the development of autoimmune and infectious and allergic diseases, which observation may be related to a significant depression of the suppressor function of T-lymphocytes by viral infection.