Previous studies have identified antibodies to Proteus mirabilis in patients with arthritis rheumatoid arthritis.

researchers, led by MM Newkirk, McGill University Health Care Montreal (Canada), examined the prevalence of antibodies to Proteus mirabilis and their association with synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in phase early.

prospective study involved 246 patients with inflammatory arthritis for less than 1 year.

The period of follow-up was 12 months.

On 30 % of enrolled patients had rheumatoid arthritis, positive rheumatoid factor (RF), 16% with rheumatoid arthritis negative for RF, 17% with spondyloarthropathy and 37% undifferentiated arthritis.

levels of IgM and IgA anti-Proteus mirabilis were significantly higher in patients with RF positive rheumatoid arthritis compared to other groups of patients (p \u0026lt; ; 0.0005 and P \u0026lt;0.005).

There was no difference between groups with respect to Proteus mirabilis IgG antibodies and IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies to other potentially pathogenic artritogenici (Chlamydia, Salmonella, Shigella , Campylobacter, Yersinia, Parvovirus B19).

IgM antibodies against Escherichia coli were elevated in patients with RF-positive rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti-anti-Proteus mirabilis and E. coli were higher in patients positive for rheumatoid factor and anti-IgG-AGE antibodies (antibodies specific for immunoglobulin G damaged by glycation end products) (p \u0026lt;0.001).

Patients with erosion tended to have higher qualifications of IgA anti-Proteus mirabilis.

Data from the study indicated that the increase in IgM and IgA anti-Proteus mirabilis and IgM antibody to Escherichia coli is associated with rheumatoid arthritis Early HIV-positive and with the presence of anti-AGE IgG.

the authors, the role played by Proteus mirabilis or Escherichia coli RF-positive early rheumatoid arthritis deserves further investigation. (Xagena2005)

MM Newkirk et al, Rheumatology 2005, 44: 1433-1441