here are some links on viral arthrtitis:

1,)
http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic3414.htm
eMedicine - Viral Arthritis : Article by Rabea Khouqeer, MD, FRCP(C)

2.)
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/311/7019/1549
pubmed link here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=8520401
Cohen B.
Parvovirus B19: an expanding spectrum of disease.
BMJ. 1995 Dec 9;311(7019):1549-52. Review. No abstract available.
PMID: 8520401

"...B19 infection is a benign, self limiting illness in children, but in adults, especially women, it is often complicated by acute arthritis (fig 3). Indeed, arthritis without a rash is a common presentation of B19 infection in adults. In a study of acute arthropathy in adults, 19 of 24 cases attributed to infectious agents were associated with parvovirus B19.14 The study by Jobanputra et al in this issue (p 1542) found that 6.7% ( 20/297) of serum samples submitted by general practitioners for rheumatoid factor tests were B19 positive on polymerase chain reaction.15 Most of them were also B19 IgM positive, indicating recent acute infection. This serves to remind us that, although B19 is a common cause of acute arthropathy, it is not often recognised.

B19 arthropathy usually resolves in a few weeks, but 10% of women with B19 infection develop joint symptoms lasting more than two months. In some cases the symptoms persist for years. We do not yet understand the pathogenesis of this chronic arthritis as histologically the joint shows no inflammatory response14 16 and evidence that B19 virus persists in the synovium17 has not been confirmed.18 None the less, B19 infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of early onset rheumatoid arthritis as some patients with B19 arthropathy fulfil the diagnostic criteria for this disease.14..."

link to figure 3 from this text, diagram which shows pattern of affected joints:
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/content/vol311/issue7019/images/small/701908.gif

3.)
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/507250_2
this is a medscape link, you would need to register with medscape to see text. I believe that the free registration should get you the full text, but I'm not sure

Last edited by Evelyn; 05/04/06 01:06 PM.