Erythema Nodosum Associated with Infection with Yersinia Enterocolitica

Abstract

Human infection with Yersinia enterocolitica is often complicated by erythema nodosum. Serum agglutinins against O-antigen of Y. enterocolitica were found in a significant titre in 73 out of 333 patients with erythema nodosum, routinely studied with regard to the antistreptolysin titre during a 2-year period. The 73 patients with such antibodies were compared with the 260 patients lacking antibodies. The group of patients with erythema nodosum supposed to be caused by Y. enterocolitica consisted mainly of women above 50 years. The antistreptolysin titres were lower than in the control group, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was higher, and intestinal symptoms preceded the onset of erythema nodosum in about 60% compared with only 7% in the control group. Sarcoidosis was never seen in the group with Y. enterocolitica infection. Regarding sex distribution, tuberculin reaction and joint pain the group infected with Y. enterocolitica did not differ from the control group. Only 1 case of suspected tuberculosis was found in the whole material. Two cases with antibodies against Y pseudotuberculosis were recorded during the observation period.