Introduction. Infections may act as environmental triggers for induction of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The aim — to study the relative rate of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) in adult patients with SLE and their correlation with disease activity and autoantibodies.
Methods: 49 adult patients satisfying the 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Classification Criteria for SLE and 30 healthy controls were included in this case-control study. All patients were subjected to complete clinical and laboratory evaluation to determine the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the British Isles Lupus Activity Gradation (BILAG). Sera from both groups were analyzed for immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies against CMV. Qualitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for both viruses was performed for twenty SLE patients.
Results: 75.5% SLE patients were positive for IgG anti-CMV antibodies. 50 % SLE patients were positive for IgM anti-CMV antibodies. CMV DNA were not detected by PCR of SLE patients. A statistically significant lower SLEDAI was found in IgG anti-CMV antibodies positive patients. Patients with SLE had higher frequencies of anti-CMV compared to healthy controls.
Conclusions: Correlation of cytomegalovirus antibodies and autoantibodies in patients with SLE for relation of them with development and flares of SLE.