[The outcome of reactive arthritis]

Cases of reactive arthritis generally have a favourable short-term outcome, within 1 to 6 months in 50 to 70 per cent of cases. The curable nature of the disease and its short clinical course mean that the therapeutic approach should be devoid of risks. Antibiotics, which are necessary for the mucosal lesion, are ineffective in the joint involvement. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, sometimes in combination with intra-articular steroid injections, seem to be sufficient in the simple forms. In the more chronic, polyarticular forms, gold therapy would appear to be preferable to the use of drugs which act on the immune system. However, the favourable short-term course is overshadowed by the incidence of relapse (30 to 50%), which are sometimes multiple, and by the subsequent development of pelvispondylitis (30% of cases) after an average of about 6 years. Permanent or recurrent peripheral joint manifestations can be seen. The clinical course of these conditions is very similar, whatever the causative agent.