[Mycoplasma and rheumatoid arthritis in children].

A microbiological and serologic investigation was carried out in 80 children with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to detect Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma as possible causative agents of RA. The antigen of Mycoplasma in question is shown to be detectable in 42.6% of cases more commonly as part of an association of 2 or more species. M. arthritidis and U. urealyticum are the more common findings. Anti-mycoplasma antibodies were detected in 25.7% of the examined children. The role of these Mycoplasma species in RA is discussed, as is the need for etiotropic treatment of mycoplasma rheumatoid arthritis.