Reiter syndrome (type of joint inflammation)

Description Arthritis that may ...

Description

Arthritis that may be accompanied with painful inflammation in one eye, and/or irritation in the urethra (the drainage tube from the bladder). This set of symptoms occurs after your immune system begins to react against an infection in the bowel or the pelvic organs. Symptoms frequently follow infection with Chlamydia (a sexually transmitted disease). It can also occur after infectious diarrhea. It is unknown why some patients develop reactive arthritis after infections, but people who carry a gene known as HLA B27 have an increased risk.

Symptoms

Arthritis symptoms include: Achilles tendon pain, heel pain, joint pain in one or more large joints (hip, knee, ankle), low back pain. Eye symptoms include: eye pain, eye burning, eye redness, eye discharge, sensitivity to light. Pelvic symptoms include: painless ulcers on penis, urinary urgency, burning with urination, urethral discharge. Other symptoms include: skin lesions on the palms and soles that may resemble psoriasis, small painless ulcers in the mouth and tongue.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. X-rays may be done. Eye exam through a slit-lamp is needed to evaluate eye symptoms from this condition. Culture of stool, culture of a swab from the penis or vagina can sometimes show an infection that was the trigger.

Tests:
Urinalysis (UA), X-ray

Other Specific Tests: HLA-B27 antigen

Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Pediatric Rheumatology

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and treat any underlying infection. Treatment may include: antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications/NSAIDs (ibuprofen/Motrin or Advil, naproxen/Naprosyn), intra-articular steroid injection, and/or physical therapy. Immunosuppressive medications may be recommended for severe cases.