Joint manifestations in gastrointestinal diseases. 2. Whipple's disease, enteric infections, intestinal bypass operations, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, pseudomembranous colitis and collagenous colitis.

This review addresses the clinical picture of rheumatic diseases seen in Whipple's disease, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, pseudomembranous colitis, collagenous colitis and that developing after enteric infections and intestinal bypass operations for morbid obesity. These disorders exemplify the interplay between antigen entrance through the gastrointestinal canal, specific bacterial properties and genetic host factors such as HLA B27. In most cases such as interplay results in formation of circulating immune complexes causing the development of peripheral joint disease.