Polyarthritis associated with Yersinia enterocolitica infection. Clinical features and laboratory findings in nine cases with severe joint symptoms.

During the last few years it has become apparent that human infections due to Yersinia enterocolitica (formerly Pasteurella X) are relatively common in several countries (Nilehn, 1969; Simond, 1970; Von Noyen, Vandepitte, and Isebaert, 1970). Patients with this bacterial infection have shown various symptoms, such as fever, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, colic, headache, backache, arthralgia, and erythema nodosum (see also Winblad, 1969; Hannuksela and Ahvonen, 1969). Recently, nonpurulent arthritis has been added to the list of clinical symptoms of Yersinia infection (Ahvonen, Sievers, and Aho, 1969a; Ahvonen and Rossi, 1970). The frequency of arthritis is probably higher than in enteric infections with other bacterial pathogens (Ahvonen and others, 1969a). Accordingly, Yersinia arthritis seems to be an important addition to the list of causes of nonpurulent arthritis. Our series of nine patients, who have been treated and followed up during the years 1969-1970 in one hospital, yields new information on the clinical features and laboratory findings of arthritis associated with Y. enterocolitica infection.