[Is there a relationship between Epstein-Barr virus and rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)].

Antibodies directed against a nuclear antigen of lymphocytes infected by Epstein-Barr virus (RANA antigen) have been detected in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, where they were present at higher levels than in the sera of controls. In vitro, the T lymphocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis seem to be incapable of controlling the multiplication of B lymphocytes induced by Epstein-Barr virus. The stimulated T lymphocytes produce more rheumatoid factors than normal lymphocytes. All this suggests that the Epstein-Barr virus might play a part in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis--a multifactorial disease which also involves a genetic factor, as shown by the increased prevalence of HLA DR4 antigen.