HLA-B27-negative arthritis related to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in three children and two adults.

Five out of 37 patients with proven Campylobacter jejuni enteritis developed arthritis. Two adult patients presented with classical Reiter's syndrome. One of the three children had reactive arthritis, and clinical suspicion of septic arthritis could not be confirmed in two. The acute synovitis subsided usually without treatment in all patients within 3-7 days, while arthralgia persisted longer in 4 patients. HLA-B27 was not present in the 5 patients with arthritis, but was found in 4 others. In Northern Norway, Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni is more frequently isolated from stool specimens than Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia enterocolitica. Synovial fluid should be cultured following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in arthritis patients.