Lymphocyte Stimulation in Reiter's Syndrome: A Comparative Study between Patients and Normal Controls with Special Reference to HLA-B27

Abstract

The lymphocyte-stimulating capacity of bacterial antigens from Yersinia enterocolitica and Chlamydia trachomaris was studied in 14 patients with Reiter's syndrome and compared with 16 healthy controls. The influence of HLA-B27 was evaluated. There was an increased reactivity in patients compared with controls. The most pronounced reactivity was seen in HLA-B27-positive patients. These findings support the hypothesis that there is an impaired T-cell function in HLA-B27-associated diseases.