Arthritis of Hepatitis Associated with Australia Antigen

  1. DANIEL K. ONION, M.D.;
  2. CLYDE S. CRUMPACKER, M.D.; and
  3. BRUCE C. GILLILAND, M.D.
  1. Seattle, Washington

    Abstract

    Three patients presented with rash and polyarthritis as a prodrome of hepatitis. They initially had Australia antigen and depressed complement levels in both synovial fluid and serum. With the onset of clinically apparent jaundice, the arthritis resolved, serum complement returned to normal, and Australia antigen was no longer detectable in the serum. Subsequently, antibody to Australia antigen appeared. These observations are similar to the events in experimental serum sickness and strongly suggest that circulating immune complexes may be responsible for at least the arthritic manifestations of hepatitis associated with Australia antigen.

    Article and Author Information

    • ▸From the Veterans Administration Hospital; the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital; and the Department of Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Wash.

    • Supported in part by the Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle, Wash., and in part by a Clinical Research Center grant from the Arthritis Foundation, New York, N.Y.

    • ▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Bruce C. Gilliland, M.D., Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. 98105

      • Received January 6, 1971.
      • Accepted April 7, 1971.
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    This Article

    1. Ann Intern Med July 1, 1971 vol. 75 no. 1 29-33
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