[Reactive Yersinia arthritis]

Yersinia enterocolitica is the cause of acute enteritis in 2 to 3 per cent of cases. In adults it can be a "trigger" of reactive arthritis. Reactive arthritis is characterised by the appearance of sterile arthritis immediately after or during the infection outside the locomotor apparatus. Antibodies for 03 serotype were examined in Yersinia serum in hospitalized patients with the clinical picture of reactive arthritis, because Yersinia, as an intestinal infection provoked by this serotype, is usually the "trigger" of Yersinia reactive arthritis. The antibody titre of 1/160 was found in 33.7 per cent of examined 70 patients, and in 5.8 per cent of that in the control group. Clinical manifestations of reactive arthritis in the group of patients with Yersinia positive antibodies were examined. They were compared with group of patients with Yersinia negative antibodies in the serum.