Reactive arthritis after Campylobacter jejuni enteritis.

Reactive arthritis of 1 or more peripheral joints developed after an enteric infection with Campylobacter jejuni in 6 adult patients. Other reactive signs, such as conjunctivitis, aphthous stomatitis, stranguria and sterile leukocyturia occurred in 4 patients. Five of the 6 patients possessed the HLA-B27 antigen. The history indicated previous joint disease in 4 of the 6 patients. The short-term follow-up showed a benign course of the arthritis. When a reactive arthritis syndrome is clinically suspected, investigations should include a search for Campylobacter jejuni infection by culture of the stool and by serological tests to demonstrate antibodies against Campylobacter jejuni.