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Tropical arthritis in Papua New Guinea: a reactive arthritis
Author(s) -
Lloyd Andrew,
Mavo Barnabus,
Naraqi us,
Cunningham Tony
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb125144.x
Subject(s) - reactive arthritis , hla b27 , medicine , serology , polyarthritis , arthritis , immunology , oligoarthritis , sacroiliitis , virology , antigen , antibody , human leukocyte antigen
An idiopathic, asymmetrical oligoarthritis affecting young adults is prevalent in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Melanesia. A serological study was undertaken in 23 consecutive patients with polyarthritis. Each patient was assigned two paired control subjects. A standardized history, physical examination and investigations were performed. Acute and convalescent sera were examined for evidence of recent infection. The presence of HLA‐B27 was determined. Twelve (52%) of the 23 patients had more than one of the clinical features of a reactive arthritis. No serological evidence was found of acute infection with viruses (arboviruses, enteroviruses, mumps, rubella, adenoviruses, Epstein–Barr virus and hepatitis B), Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Yersinia or syphilis. HLA‐B27 was found in 14 (61%) of the 23 patients in contrast with in seven (17%) of the 41 control subjects ( p <0.001). In two patients with HLA‐B27, diagnostic titres of antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni–Campylobacter coli indicated recent infection. The presence of HLA‐B27 antigen was significantly ( p < 0.05) asssociated with the presence of the clinical features of reactive arthritis. This study suggests that ‘tropical arthritis’ commonly is a reactive arthritis that is associated with the presence of HLA‐B27.