Reactive arthritis

Abstract

During the past year, no big advances were reported in understanding the pathogenesis or treatment of reactive arthritis (ReA). The need for generally accepted diagnostic criteria has become a central issue. Regarding pathogenesis, attention has been drawn to a similarity between ReA and the experimental antigen-induced arthritis. Molecular mechanisms of the HLA-B27-associated pathogenesis have remained, in spite of intensive research, so far a mystery. It is apparent that antibiotics have no effect on the fully developed reactive arthritis, with the exception of patients with Chlamydia-triggered ReA, who might benefit from a course of antibiotics.