HLA-B27, arthritis and spondylitis in an isolated community in Papua New Guinea

Rheumatic complaints in a sample of 109 individuals from an isolated community in Papua New Guinea were documented and 92/109 were tissue typed for HLA-B27. Eleven (10.1%) subjects had active peripheral arthritis, but 38 (34.9%) had previously suffered an episode of arthritis. In those with current peripheral arthritis, 6/10 (60%) were HLA-B27 positive compared to 15/58 (25.9%) with no history of arthritis (P less than 0.05). In total, 16/34 (47.1%) with either current or a previous history of peripheral arthritis were HLA-B27 positive compared to the 15/58 (25.9%) with no history of arthritis (P less than 0.05). Back pain was common. In 84/109 individuals the cause was mechanical injury; 24/72 (33.3%) of these were HLA-B27 positive. Ankylosing spondylitis was identified in one HLA-B27-negative woman.