Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Visser, H.
Right arrow Articles by Hazes, J. M. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Visser, H.
Right arrow Articles by Hazes, J. M. W.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Rheumatology 2000; 39: 1351-1356
© 2000 British Society for Rheumatology

The diagnostic value of streptococcal serology in early arthritis: a prospective cohort study

H. Visser, I. Speyer2, B. Özcan, F. C. Breedveld, M. L. van Ogtrop1 and J. M. W. Hazes1

Departments of Rheumatology and
1 Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden
2 Bronovo Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, The Hague, The Netherlands

Objective. To evaluate the diagnostic value of streptococcal serology in adult early arthritis patients in discriminating between post-streptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA) and arthritis with other causes.

Methods. The antistreptolysin-O (ASO) and anti-DNase B tests were performed at baseline in 366 consecutive, newly referred early arthritis patients. After 1 yr of follow-up the patients were classified according to international classification criteria and were evaluated for the presence of persistent arthritis. The outcome measures were the predictive value of streptococcal serology for the diagnosis of PSRA and the ability of this serology to discriminate at the first visit between the self-limiting and persistent forms of arthritis.

Results. With a positive serological result, the probability of having PSRA increased from 2 to 9%, whereas the probabilities of having rheumatoid arthritis or undifferentiated arthritis continued to be high (23 and 29% ). The serological tests did not discriminate between the self-limiting and persistent forms of arthritis. The major Jones criteria apart from arthritis were not observed.

Conclusion. Streptococcal serology has no diagnostic value in adult early arthritis patients in whom major Jones criteria other than arthritis are not present.

KEY WORDS: Post-streptococcal reactive arthritis, Streptococcal serology, Antistreptolysin-O, Anti-DNase B, Early arthritis, Diagnosis.

Correspondence to: H. Visser, Department of Rheumatology, C4-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc.Home page
D. Logan and P. J. McKee
Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis.
J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, July 1, 2006; 96(4): 362 - 366.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
S. L. Mackie and A. Keat
Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis: what is it and how do we know?
Rheumatology, August 1, 2004; 43(8): 949 - 954.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.