Which organism is associated with reactive arthritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Which organism is associated with reactive arthritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome?

• A. Campylobacter Jejuni
• B. Escherichia coli O157:H7
• C. Salmonella enteritidis
• D. Shigella dysenteriae

Answer: (A)

Campylobacter jejuni is the classic trigger for both post-infectious autoimmune joint inflammation and Guillain-Barré syndrome. After a Campylobacter GI infection, the immune system can misdirect its attack toward the body's own tissues. For Guillain-Barré syndrome, antibodies generated against the bacterium’s surface structures cross-react with nerve gangliosides due to molecular mimicry, leading to demyelination and the characteristic ascending weakness. For reactive arthritis, the same enteric infection can provoke sterile inflammatory arthritis a few weeks later, especially in people who carry HLA-B27. Other bacteria listed may cause gastroenteritis and can rarely be associated with reactive arthritis, but they are not as strongly linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome as Campylobacter jejuni.

Campylobacter jejuni is the classic trigger for both post-infectious autoimmune joint inflammation and Guillain-Barré syndrome. After a Campylobacter GI infection, the immune system can misdirect its attack toward the body's own tissues. For Guillain-Barré syndrome, antibodies generated against the bacterium’s surface structures cross-react with nerve gangliosides due to molecular mimicry, leading to demyelination and the characteristic ascending weakness. For reactive arthritis, the same enteric infection can provoke sterile inflammatory arthritis a few weeks later, especially in people who carry HLA-B27.

Other bacteria listed may cause gastroenteritis and can rarely be associated with reactive arthritis, but they are not as strongly linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome as Campylobacter jejuni.