ABSTRACT
This work was done to assess the relation between HPV B19 infection and arthropathies in Egyptian adults cases. For this purpose 40 rheumatoid arthritis [RA] cases, 10 osteoarthritis cases and 10 systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] cases were selected to represent different types of arthropathies. The selection of cases was based on clinical diagnosis and laboratory tests [ESR, Hb level, Rose waller, detection of antinuclear antibodies and detection of hidden rheumatoid factor]. HPV B19 IgM and IgG were searched for by ELISA test in their sera as indicator of the state of HPV B19 infection. A control group was also included in this study, as 30 healthy persons with no previous complaint of rheumatic symptoms. HPV B19 IgM was detected in 60% of patients with RA, 40% of osteoarthritis cases and none of the SLE cases. Positive cases were more among females with long duration of illness affecting both big and small joints. These results indicated a possible causal association between acute HPV B19 and arthropathy. As regards HPV B19 IgG, it was detected in 57% of RA cases, 60% of osteoarthritis cases and 40% of SLE. The difference in IgG was statistically insignificant from the control group [46.7%]. The presence of HPV B19 IgG antibodies indicates previous exposure to the virus but does not indicate its time. Detection of HPV B19 IgM or rising titer of HPV B19 IgG may lead to early diagnosis of HPV B19 arthropathies