Demonstration of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA and anti-CMV response in the synovial membrane and serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

One hundred forty-seven synovial membranes were investigated for the presence of human cytomegalovirus (CMV). In 11 of 83 synovial membranes of patients with rhumatoid arthritis (RA), but only in 2 of 64 synovial membranes from patients with other joint orders, CMV-DNA could be detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique (p<0.05). In contrast, the percentage of seropositive patients was not significantly different between the 2 groups of patients and no blood sample from any patient tested revealed the presence of CMV by PCR