title: [Reactive arthritis: advances in diagnosis and treatment].
abstract: Reactive Arthritis (ReA) is an aseptic synovitis developing after a primary infection distant from the joint, mainly localized in the gastrointestinal (Enteroarthritis) or genitourinary tract (Uroarthritis). Because of either the asymmetric joint involvement, the possibility of involvement of the spine and enthesis, and the HLA-B27 association ReA is considered one of the spondylarthropathies. Recently, bacterial components or viable bacteria were found in joints during ReA. For this reason, the limits between ReA itself and infectious arthritis are now less definite. Generally accepted diagnostic and classification criteria are still lacking but the improvement in techniques for detection of bacteria increase the possibility to identify the triggering agents. Several studies have examined the role of antimicrobial drugs in ameliorating the natural course of ReA, with some positive results for Uroarthritis only. However, more conventional treatments based on NSAIDs, sulfasalazine and steroids are effective in many cases.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Reumatologia, Casa di Cura Polispecialistica Villa Pini, Chieti, Italia. Kaps57@virgilio.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palazzi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alleva
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitullo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petricca
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004751:Enteritis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000150:complications; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D000091402:Prohibitins
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins