[Post-salmonellosis rheumatism]

Abstract

Reports of forty-six cases of aseptic polyarthritis following intestinal Salmonlla infections have been published. The organism involved is always a "minor" Salmonella either typhimurium or enteritidis. The interval separating the diarrhoea from the joint manifestations is usually one or two weeks. Post-salmonellosis rheumatism is most frequently polyarthritis involving the large joints accompanied by fever that is sometimes high. The sedimentation rate is increased and hyperleucytosis and discrete anaemia may also be present. Salmonella infection is established by the presence of the organism in the stools and a positive sero-diagnosis. In all cases the polyarthritis is cured by anti-inflammatory treatment in 1-6 months. HLA W27 antigen is present in the majority of the patients although spondylarthritis is not seen during the evolution. Although the number of cases of post-salmonellosis rheumatism is very small and the connection between the salmonellosis and the rheumatism has not been demonstrated, it is valuable, in cases of acute polyarthritis following enteritis, to carry out coproculture and serodiagnosis of salmonellosis.