title: Ankylosing spondylitis: klebsiella and HL-A B27.
abstract: A search for the presence of Klebsiella-Enterobacter spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica in urine and faeces of 63 patients with ankylosing spondylitis was conducted because these microorganisms have been demonstrated to cross-react immunologically with HL-A B27 positive lymphocytes. The patients were graded into three groups on the basis of disease activity. Klebsiella spp. were found in the faeces of 13 (93%) of the 14 patients with 'active' disease, 10 (48%) of the 21 patients with 'probably active' disease and in one (4%) of the 28 patients with 'inactive' disease. Positive cultures were also obtained in 47 (38%) of 124 controls. It is suggested that the presence of Klebsiella spp. in faecal cultures may be associated with 'active' disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D015007:Yersinia / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens