Reiter's syndrome in the population. An Interview Study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Reiter's syndrome (RS) is a form of reactive arthritis.
• The role of sexual transmission in the etiology of RS is not fully understood.
• Investigating the incidence of RS and associated symptoms in sexual partners is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of probable Reiter's syndrome (PRS) in a general population sample.
• To assess the prevalence of urogenital and joint involvement in sexual partners of individuals with PRS.
• To explore the potential role of sexual transmission in the development and recurrence of RS.

Main Methods:

• Interviews were conducted with 530 randomly selected individuals (219 males, 311 females) aged 15-54.
• Data collected included personal history of RS/PRS, urogenital infections, and joint/back pain.
• Sexual partners' medical histories were also considered where applicable.

Main Results:

• 2.7% of males and 2.3% of females reported a history of probable RS (PRS).
• Sexual partners of individuals with PRS showed a 3.9-fold increased risk of urogenital involvement (females) and a 13-fold increased risk (males).
• Simultaneous urogenital and/or joint involvement occurred more frequently in couples where one partner had a history of PRS.

Conclusions:

• Infections in the genitourinary tracts of sexual partners may act as a reservoir for microbes causing RS.
• Sexually acquired and maintained rheumatic diseases represent a significant challenge in rheumatology.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering sexual transmission in the pathogenesis of RS.