Low frequency of recent parvovirus infection in a population-based cohort of patients with early inflammatory polyarthritis. Issue 6 (1st June 1998)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harrison, Beverley; Silman, Alan; Barrett, Elizabeth; Symmons, Deborah
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 57:Issue 6(1998)
• Page Start: 375
• Page End: 377
• Publication Date: 1998-06-01
• Subjects: rheumatoid arthritis -- epidemiology -- human parvovirus B19; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.57.6.375
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of human parvovirus B19 infection in explaining the incidence of early inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) in a population. SETTING: The Norfolk Arthritis Register (NOAR) is a community-based programme aiming to ascertain all new cases of IP arising in a population that lead to attendance at primary care. SUBJECTS: 147 newly ascertained subjects with IP with a disease duration of less than 16 weeks. METHODS: Full clinical appraisal of all subjects who were followed up for three years. B19 IgM assayed with a third generation antibody capture enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Only four (2.7%) patients had evidence of recent B19 infection, only one of whom did not satisfy criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CONCLUSION: B19 infection does not explain more than a small proportion of either RA or undifferentiated IP cases occurring in the population.