TY - JOUR T1 - Fecal Microbiota in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1500 LP - 1505 VL - 35 IS - 8 AU - JUSSI VAAHTOVUO AU - EVELIINA MUNUKKA AU - MIKA KORKEAMÄKI AU - REIJO LUUKKAINEN AU - PAAVO TOIVANEN Y1 - 2008/08/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/8/1500.abstract N2 - Objective To compare the composition of intestinal microbiota of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or fibromyalgia (FM), fecal samples were collected from 51 patients with RA and 50 with FM. Methods RA patients fulfilled the RA criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, and duration of their disease was ≤ 6 months. Only nonhospitalized patients from outpatient care were included. Patients having extreme diets or previous disease modifying antirheumatic drug or glucocorticoid medication were excluded, as were those taking antibiotics or having gastroenteritis for at least 2 months prior to sampling. Fecal bacterial composition was analyzed with a method based on flow cytometry, 16S rRNA hybridization, and DNA-staining. A set of 8 oligonucleotide probes was used. Results In comparison to patients with FM, the RA patients had significantly less bifidobacteria and bacteria of the Bacteroides-Porphyromonas-Prevotella group, Bacteroides fragilis subgroup, and Eubacterium rectale – Clostridium coccoides group. Results from the 8 probes showed a significant overall difference between the 2 patient groups, indicating widespread microbial differences. Conclusion These findings support the hypothesis that intestinal microbes participate in the etiopathogenesis of RA. ER -