Reactive Arthritis

Question 1

What is reactive arthritis?

Answer 1

Sterile inflammatory arthritis occurring with 4 weeks of infection. It is an HLA-B27 seronegative spondyloarthropathies

Question 2

What are the risk factors for reactive arthrits?

Answer 2

• Male sex,
• Early adulthood,
• HLA-b27
• Dysenteric infections/STI infections (chlamydia)

Question 3

What are the featrues of reactive arthritis?

Answer 3

• Arthritis (commonly monoarthritis and affecting lower limbs)
• Anterior uveitis
• Urethritis (can’t see, can’t pee and can’t climb a tree)
• Dactylitis
• Keratoderma blenorrhagica,
• Circinate balanitis

Question 4

What are the investigations for reactive arthritis?

Answer 4

• Joint aspiration to rule out septic arthritis as they can present similarly. Also to rule our crystal arthropathy

Question 5

What is the management of reactive arthritis?

Answer 5

NSAIDs
Steroid injections
Systemic steroids
Most cases will resolve within 6 months but recurrent cases may require DMARDs