Immunosupression and viral infections in rheumatic diseases

: Infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatic diseases. Although bacterial pathogens are the most common cause of infections, a wide variety of viral pathogens can also cause serious clinical manifestations mostly due to immunosupressive therapy primarily targeting cellular immunity (steroids, cyclosporins, cyclophosphamid, leflunomid, TNF-alfa antagonists etc.). Depleted cellular immunity can lead to reactivation of latent viruses such as members of Herpesvirus family, or hepatitis B and C viruses. Symptoms of viral infection may mimic exacerbation of rheumatic disease. In this paper authors present the main clinical characteristics, diagnostics and tretment possibilities for most common viral infections in immunosupressed host with a rheumatic disease.