ViewpointParvovirus B19 and the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: a case for historical reasoning
Section snippets
The historical record
From written records, paintings,9 and Rothschild and colleagues' study of skeletons,10, 11 rheumatoid arthritis seems to be a relatively new disease in Europe, not appearing until after the return of explorers from the new world at the end of the 15th century. By contrast, the disease has existed in North America for many thousands of years. The finding of no ancient bones from the old world with the characteristic erosive lesions of rheumatoid arthritis11 suggests not only that this disease
Other diseases
Apart from a possible role for parvovirus B19 in the cause of rheumatoid arthritis, it is known to cause several other diseases: parvovirus-B19-associated arthritis, erythema infectiosum, aplastic anaemia, hydrops fetalis (as a result of maternal exposure), and acute fulminant liver failure.12 The exanthem erythema infectiosum in children (“fifth disease”) is characterised by high infectivity and epidemic outbreaks, and a maculopapular rash on the face (“slapped cheek” appearance), which can
From antiquity to modernity
The link between parvovirus B19, rheumatoid arthritis, erythema infectiosum, and contact with the new world makes a strong case that no evidence in art or writing should be found for erythema infectiosum in the precontact old world. Therefore, one method of testing the notion that parvovirus B19 is a new-world virus would be to search historical records further to see whether there are any cases of erythema infectiosum in Europe before 1500. Failure to identify such cases, however, does not
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Cited by (32)
Human parvovirus B19 and autoimmune diseases. Review of the literature and pathophysiological hypotheses
2015, Journal of Clinical VirologyCitation Excerpt :The first cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) would also have occurred after the first contacts with America, while the study of certain Amerindian skeletons suggests the existence of this disease well before the discovery of the American continent. Although the first tobacco imports coincide with this period and although tobacco potentially plays a major triggering role in RA, these findings led Altschuler to propose the hypothesis that PVB19 may have originated in America before being introduced into Europe, which would coincide with the appearance of the first cases of RA in Europe [57]. However, further scientific evidence is required before establishing a definite link between RA and PVB19.
Etiological role of cigarette smoking in rheumatoid arthritis: Nasal exposure to cigarette smoke condensate extracts augments the development of collagen-induced arthritis in mice
2011, Biochemical and Biophysical Research CommunicationsCitation Excerpt :Currently about 1% of the world’s population is affected by the disease. Nevertheless, studies on document, excavation, examination of skeletons and paintings suggest that RA has not been found until 17 century in old world (Europe) [25–29]. Guillaume Baillou (1558–1616) and Thomas Syndenham (1624–1689) first identified RA and distinguished it from the related disease, such as gout and rheumatic fever.
Cigarette smoke condensate extracts augment collagen-induced arthritis in mice
2010, International ImmunopharmacologyCitation Excerpt :Currently about 1% of the world's population is affected by the disease. Quite interestingly, however, studies on document, excavation, examination of skeletons and paintings suggest that RA has not been found until 17 century in old world (Europe) [24–28]. Guillaume Baillou (1558–1616) and Thomas Syndenham (1624–1689) first identified RA and distinguished it from the related disease, such as gout and rheumatic fever.
Unscrambling the role of human parvovirus B19 signaling in systemic autoimmunity
2006, Biochemical PharmacologyCitation Excerpt :Based on examination of writings, paintings [25] and skeletons [26,27], it has been suggested that arthritis is a relatively new disease in Europe, where it appeared after the return of the explorers from the new world toward the end of the 15th century, shortly after the first contacts with the American continent. By contrast, arthritis has existed in North America for several thousands of years in the pre-Columbian era [28]. Since the first description of a disease compatible with erythema infectiosum was traced back to 1797 [29], B19 was, at this time, probably a new virus to Europe.
B19 parvovirus
2004, EMC - Maladies InfectieusesMolecular method to test if Parvovirus B19 is a new virus to the Old World
2004, Medical Hypotheses