Reactive Arthritis

Question 1

Why is it no longer called Reiter’s Disease (don’t need to know)

Answer 1

As hans Reiter who discovered it was heavily involved in the nazi party

Question 2

What are the triad of symptoms that occurs?

Answer 2

Inflammation of the large joints, urethritis or cervicitis, conjunctivitis/uveitis

Question 3

What other signs might there be?

Answer 3

Brown raised plaques on palms and soles, painless penile ulceration (2* to chlamydia)

Question 4

What tests would you do?

Answer 4

FBCs, ESR, CRP, stool culture if diarrhoea, infectious serology, sex health review, XR to show enthesitis

Question 5

Management?

Answer 5

Splint affected joints, NSAIDs or local steroid injection, if symptoms last greater than 6 months give sulfazalizine or methotrexate

Question 6

Is there a specific cure?

Answer 6

No

Question 7

How much will treating the original cause help recovery?

Answer 7

Often minimally as original infection has already occurred?

Question 8

Is Reactive arthritis recurrent or chronic?

Answer 8

Can be either

Question 9

What is it?

Answer 9

A sterile autoimmune arthritis affecting the lower limb 1-4 weeks after urethritis or dysentery (reaction to the infection hence reactive)