Current Concepts of Reiter's Syndrome

Reiter's syndrome (RS) is a major rheumatic disease, which is frequently chronic, often difficult to treat, and can cause significant, longterm morbidity. To date, there is no specific diagnostic test for RS. Therefore diagnosis has to be made by clinical acumen. Because of the venereal origin of most cases of RS, urethritis and/or cervicitis are often found. If absent, a thorough search should be made for other extra-articular features, e.g., diarrhea, conjunctivitis and mucocutaneous lesions. The condition afflicts mainly young men, but is becoming increasingly more common in women and is seen even in children. The arthritis associated with RS usually is oligoarticular, asymmetrical and tends to involve the lower extremities. However, extra-articular manifestations may be absent. If they are, a positive HLA-B27 test may be helpful, because 65-80% of Caucasians who develop RS are positive for HLA-B27.