Immune complexes in polyarthritis after Salmonella gastroenteritis.

In a case of polyarthritis after salmonella gastroenteritis the levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) (C1q-binding assay) correlated closely with disease activity. This observation suggests that systematically absorbed salmonella antigens may lead or contribute to the formation of CIC. CIC activate both the classical and alternate complement pathway and may be important in the pathogenesis of the arthritis associated with salmonella infection.