title: Effect of a three month course of ciprofloxacin on the outcome of reactive arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of reactive arthritis (ReA) with antibiotics has so far remained controversial. Eradication of the causative microbe appears logical, but short term antibiotic treatment has no beneficial effect on the outcome of ReA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a three month course of ciprofloxacin on ReA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial, between December 1992 and February 1996, 71 patients with acute ReA triggered by a gastrointestinal or a urogenital infection were randomly assigned to receive ciprofloxacin 500 mg or placebo twice daily for three months. Patients were assessed at study entry, at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Sixty two patients were valid for the efficacy analysis. The primary outcome measures were erythrocyte sedimentation rate, number of swollen joints, patients self assessment, and complete recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adverse events were mostly mild and occurred in both treatment groups. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the primary or secondary efficacy variables between the study groups at baseline or during the 12 month follow up. All primary outcome measures indicated that the condition of the patients improved during the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both groups tended to recover. Ciprofloxacin, given as a three month course, had no advantage over placebo treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Turku University, Finland. timo.yli-kerttula@utu.fi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yli-Kerttula
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luukkainen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yli-Kerttula
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Möttönen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korpela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanila
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parviainen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uksila
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vainionpää
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toivanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000091402:Prohibitins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D002939:Ciprofloxacin