M042: THE ROLE OF INFECTIONS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ARTHRITIS
IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENTS
Dr M Al-Shamma*, Dr E McCruden** & Dr B Stack*
(*West of Scotland Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Gartnavel General
Hospital, Glasgow **Department of Virology, Western Infirmary,
Glasgow)
As patients with cystic fibrosis live longer, associated conditions such as arthritis have been increasingly recognised and described. The cause of cystic fibrosis arthritis is not known. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of infection in the pathogenesis of arthritis
Fifty patients attending the West of Scotland Adult Cystic Fibrosis
Centre were included in the study. Ten patients (20%) had suffered
from arthritis at some time, the remaining 40 patients (80%) gave
no history of arthritis.
Patients who suffered from arthritis had more severe respiratory
and pancreatic disease. The frequency of permanent colonisation
with pseudomonas aeruginosa and pseudomonas cepacia was significantly
higher in the arthritis patients.(P <0.05, <0.01 respectively).
Previous infection with Parvo virus (as indicated by the presence
of IgG antibodies) was significantly higher in the arthritis patients
(P <0.05).
It is possible that antibodies against bacterial or viral antigens play a major role in the pathogenesis of arthritis in cystic fibrosis patients by causing immune complex deposition on the synovial membrane. Further study is required.