Reactive arthritis due to Salmonella enteritidis complicated by carditis

Reactive arthritis following infection with enteropathogenic bacteria is usually a self-limiting disease that disappears after a few months without sequela. We describe two girls who developed carditis shortly after the onset of reactive arthritis due to infection with Salmonella enteritidis. The carditis presented with fatigue and arrhythmia and involved the aortic valve in both patients leading to definite aortic regurgitation in one. A similar pattern of cardiac involvement is found in other spondyloarthropathies, including Reiter's syndrome and ankylosing spondylitis. We conclude that Salmonella reactive arthritis may be complicated by carditis.