Late complications after a Yersinia enterocolitica epidemic: a follow up study

Article Abstract:

Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica) are a common type of bacteria that can infect the digestive tract, causing diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. A reactive arthritis may follow the infection after several weeks and can last up to a year. Subsequently, other chronic connective tissue (skin, bone, and cartilage) disorders may develop. Late complications occurring 13 years after a Y. enterocolitica epidemic were studied. Of 94 affected soldiers, 75 completed a questionnaire. Of the 75 men responding to the study, 38 were healthy and refused an examination. Of the 37 men with health problems, 21 with hypertension, kidney stones, or accidental injuries unrelated to the epidemic were not examined. Of the 16 remaining men who were evaluated, 7 had back problems, 5 had knee or ankle problems, and 4 had musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis. Five men were found to have HLA-B27, and three of these men had rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. (HLA types are groups of proteins that enable immune system recognition of ''self'' proteins, and are also strongly linked to predispositions for certain diseases.) Five of the 16 men had notably high blood levels of antibodies against Y. enterocolitica. Antibiotic therapy did not correlate with the incidence of complications. The report suggests that significant complications of Y. enterocolitica epidemic were primarily musculoskeletal conditions, and that HLA-B27 was prominent in the development of late complications. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Complications and side effects, HLA histocompatibility antigens, HLA antigens, Yersinia enterocolitica infections

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Late onset spondylarthropathy: clinical and biological comparison with early onset patients

Article Abstract:

Patient age when disease begins appears to significantly affect the characteristics of spondylarthropathy (SPA). Disease features were compared among eight patients who developed SPA between the ages of 58 and 72 years and 32 patients with developed SPA between the ages of 11 and 40 years. A greater number of older patients had a family history of SPA, a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate, chest wall involvement, other arthritis, bone inflammation, and back pain compared to younger patients. More of the younger patients responded to non-steroidal inflammatory drugs than the older patients.

Analysis, Demographic aspects, Spondyloarthropathies, Age factors in disease, Disease age factors

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Clinical follow up study of 87 patients with sicca symptoms (dryness of eyes or mouth, or both)

Article Abstract:

Older age, elevated beta 2-microglobulin in the blood, antinuclear antibodies, and elevated serum immunoglobulin G may indicate patients with chronic mouth and eye dryness likely to develop Sjogren's syndrome. Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects the salivary and tear glands.

Finland, Statistical Data Included, Risk factors, Prognosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Xerostomia, Xerophthalmia, Dry eye syndromes

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