Reactive arthritis: characteristics in southern New Zealand

To review the clinical characteristics of patients with reactive arthritis and their associated triggering infections in a New Zealand community.

We reviewed the records of 60 patients with reactive arthritis. For comparison data was also collected on 30 randomly selected patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Reactive arthritis affected a young age group. Half the episodes occurred in the age range 16-24 years and the mean age, (SD) of affected patients was 27(10) years cf psoriatic arthritis 40 (17) years, p<0.001. Almost half had a disease course longer than 2 yr and erosive joint damage in one quarter. Two thirds required treatment with sulphasalazine or methotrexate and patients with reactive arthritis were admitted to hospital frequently: 37% vs psoriatic arthritis 7%, p<0.001. Antecedent diarrhoea was documented in 23 episodes whereas a diagnosis of sexually acquired reactive arthritis was made in 11.

Reactive arthritis has a significant impact on a young age group in this community. This provides a further reason for action to contain the rapidly increasing prevalence in the community of gastrointestinal infections known to trigger reactive arthritis.