Prevalence of human leukocyte antigen B27 positivity and microbiological profiles of patients with reactive arthritis - A cross sectional study

Abstract

The present study aims to determine the spectrum of etiological agents and to screen HLA-B27 and, related inflammatory markers in patients presenting with symptoms of Spondyloarthritis(SpA) post diarrhea, which can aid in prompt diagnosis of reactive arthritis (ReA). A total of 903 stool samples of patients presenting with diarrhea were collected and screened with microscopic and culture techniques to identify the etiological agents. Blood samples of patients presenting with both diarrhea and arthritis were collected and subjected to C- reactive protein(CRP), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and Human Leukocyte Antigen B27(HLA-B27) detection tests. Among the total of 903 patients, 20 Salmonella species were isolated. Othergut microbes identified included Escherichia coli 572(63%), Klebsiella species 126(14%), Proteus vulgaris 43(5%), Proteus mirabilis 27(3%), Citrobacter species and Enterococcus species 8(1%), while some of these organisms(3.2%) caused inflammation resulting in ReA. Parasitic etiology was found in 99 patients, among which the most common parasites include Entamoeba histolytica and hookworm, identified through microscopy. Among the total, 29 patients were found to have symptoms of joint pain with articular and extra articular manifestations, and some associated with HLA-B27.