What is the cause of Reiter's syndrome?
What Causes Reactive Arthritis? Reactive arthritis, or Reiter's syndrome, is usually preceded by an infection caused by bacteria, such as Chlamydia trachomatis (a sexually transmitted disease) or Salmonella (a bacteria that can contaminate foods).
Reactive arthritis: can't see, can't pee, can't climb a tree… Reiter's disease, also known as reactive arthritis, is a seronegative HLA-B27-associated autoimmune disease, characterised by oligoarthritis of large joints with additional ophthalmic and urological manifestations.
Reiter's syndrome, also known as reactive arthritis, is the classic triad of conjunctivitis, urethritis, and arthritis occurring after an infection, particularly those in the urogenital or gastrointestinal tract.
Reactive arthritis, formerly termed Reiter syndrome, is an autoimmune condition that develops in response to an infection. It has been associated with gastrointestinal infections with Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and other organisms. Reactive arthritis can last for months or years and may be difficult to treat.
The three main features of Reiter syndrome are arthritis, genitourinary tract symptoms, and conjunctivitis. It is classified as a seronegative spondyloarthropathy with a clinical presentation of erythematous plaques, combined with urethritis or cervicitis that occurs following a bacterial infection.
Previously, reactive arthritis was sometimes called Reiter's syndrome.
Reactive arthritis (ReA), formerly termed Reiter syndrome, is an autoimmune condition that develops in response to an infection.
There is no cure for Reiter syndrome, but you can control the symptoms. For most people, symptoms go away in 2 to 6 months.
Reactive arthritis may also be linked to genes. People with reactive arthritis often have the HLA-B27 gene. But many people have this gene without getting reactive arthritis.
Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by quotidian (daily) fevers, arthritis, and an evanescent rash. First described in children by George Still in 1896, "Still's disease" has become the eponymous term for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis [1].
What mimics reactive arthritis?
Reactive arthritis can look similar to psoriatic arthritis in that both conditions can cause asymmetric joint pain, especially in the lower limbs, back pain, enthesitis and dactylitis. But the defining factor for reactive arthritis is symptoms or a history of infection.
Reiter's syndrome is characterized by arthritis, non-gonococcal urethritis, conjunctivitis and mucocutaneous lesions. Oral lesions occur in 20-40% of the cases. They appear as papules and ulcerations on the buccal mucosa, gingiva and lips. Lesions on the tongue resemple "geographic tongue".

Reactive arthritis, formerly known as Reiter's syndrome, is a condition that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) in various places in the body. It usually develops following an infection, and in most cases clears up in a few months without causing long-term problems.
Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Most people who are infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps a day or two after being exposed to the bacterium. The diarrhea is often bloody. Shigellosis usually resolves in five to seven days.
Recognition of Shigella as a potential STI began in the 1970s with outbreaks among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the US [8, 9, 14, 15]. Sexual transmission of Shigella likely occurs during oral-anal sex (e.g., anilingus or rimming) or digital-anal sex (e.g., fisting) [16, 17].
Spondyloarthritis is a type of arthritis that attacks the spine and, in some people, the joints of the arms and legs. It can also involve the skin, intestines and eyes. The main symptom (what you feel) in most patients is low back pain.
antibiotic therapy may be rational. ampicillin or tetracycline would probably be generally acceptable.
HLA-B27. This blood test looks for the presence of HLA-B27, a genetic risk factor for reactive arthritis. Having this marker is consistent with having reactive arthritis, but it is not definitive—people who test negative can still have reactive arthritis, and not everyone who tests positive has the condition.
Differential diagnosis includes other spondyloarthritis (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease-associated spondyloarthropathy, juvenile-onset spondyloarthropathy, and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy).
In patients who suffer from chronic Reactive Arthritis, long-term disability (LTD) benefits may be available under the Social Security program (SSDI) or from an employer-based group plan (ERISA).
When does reactive arthritis start?
Reactive arthritis tends to occur most often in men between ages 20 and 50. Some patients with reactive arthritis carry a gene called HLA-B27. Patients who test positive for HLA-B27 often have a more sudden and severe onset of symptoms. They also are more likely to have chronic (long-lasting) symptoms.
Reactive arthritis causes you to have extremely painful, swollen joints and can make you feel very tired. It can affect your joints after you've had an infection somewhere else in your body, such as a tummy bug, diarrhoea (die-a-ree-ah), or a throat infection.
The longer you're exposed to stress, the more destructive the inflammation can become. In a PLoS One study, people with RA identified stress as a trigger for disease flare-ups. Arthritis symptoms contribute to stress, especially when they're unrelenting. Constant pain, fatigue, and poor sleep create a vicious cycle.
- Antibiotics to treat the infection.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce inflammation.
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
- Immunosuppressive medicines such as methotrexate to control inflammation.
- Strong biological immunosuppressants given as a shot.
Reactive arthritis, formerly known as Reiter's syndrome, is a condition that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) in various places in the body. It usually develops following an infection, and in most cases clears up in a few months without causing long-term problems.
Typically, reactive arthritis is caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia, or an infection of the bowel, such as food poisoning. You may also develop reactive arthritis if you, or someone close to you, has recently had glandular fever or slapped cheek syndrome.
Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by an infection. It may be caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, salmonella, or another infection. The condition may cause arthritis symptoms, such as joint pain and inflammation. It may also cause symptoms in the urinary tract and eyes.
- Lyme Disease.
- Psoriatic Arthritis.
- Sjögren's Syndrome.
- Gout.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Lupus.