title: A bicentre retrospective study of features and outcomes of patients with reactive arthritis.
abstract: Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a sterile arthritis following an extra-articular infection, usually of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and the clinical and therapeutic characteristics of ReA and to compare them with those of a historical cohort. We hypothesised that improved hygiene together with prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections may have decreased the incidence of ReA.
  
  
  
  All patients with ReA diagnosed in the University Hospital Centres of Lyon Sud and Besançon from January 2002 to December 2012 were included in the study retrospectively and were compared with ReA patients diagnosed from January 1986 to December 1996 in the same two hospitals. Medical records were reviewed, clinical features, treatments and outcomes were analysed and diagnoses were compared with international diagnostic criteria.
  
  
  
  Twenty-seven patients were included between 2002 and 2012 compared with 31 between 1986 and 1996. The overall incidence of ReA in patients hospitalised in the rheumatology department did not change, although the current evolution is more severe with development of chronic disease in the form of more frequent spondyloarthritis. While the incidence of Chlamydiae trachomatis has decreased, new microbes are now found to be involved.
  
  
  
  ReA still exists and its incidence has been stable over the last 30 years. However, ReA currently more often progress to spondyloarthritis. Our study also highlights the need for diagnostic criteria that accurately detect ReA.
authors.affiliation: Département de rhumatologie, hospices civils de Lyon, centre hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France; Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Courcoul
authors.affiliation: Département de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier de Besançon, 25030 Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brinster
authors.affiliation: Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Pôle IMER, hospices civils de Lyon, 69002 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Decullier
authors.affiliation: Département de rhumatologie, hospices civils de Lyon, centre hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Larbre
authors.affiliation: Département de rhumatologie, hospices civils de Lyon, centre hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piperno
authors.affiliation: Unité d'information médicale, hospices civils de Lyon, 69002 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pradat
authors.affiliation: Département de rhumatologie, hospices civils de Lyon, centre hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France; Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Jacques G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tebib
authors.affiliation: Département de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier de Besançon, 25030 Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wendling
authors.affiliation: Département de rhumatologie, hospices civils de Lyon, centre hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France; Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France. Electronic address: fabienne.coury@free.fr.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D000091402:Prohibitins; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins
keywords: Infection; Outcome; Reactive arthritis; Spondyloarthritis