Osteomyelitis infection disguised as Reiter's syndrome in a child: A case report

Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis) should always prompt a thorough clinical investigation of a potentially more serious disease condition in every pediatric patient and adults. It should always be regarded as a warning sign and not a disease. This is a case of a 16-year-old African boy with osteomyelitis presenting with symptoms of reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome).

Sexually acquired reactive arthritis

Sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA) may present acutely to general physicians. It is important to consider the condition and to identify key features in the history and examination so that appropriate investigations are taken and optimum treatment is given. Involvement of relevant specialists in the management is essential and where sexually transmitted infections are identified, partner notification is required.

Lone aortic insufficiency and conduction disease: a marker of reactive arthritis

A 48-year-old male with history of chronic arthritis and uveitis presented with 1 year of progressively reduced exercise capacity and nonexertional chest pain. Physical examination was consistent with severe aortic insufficiency. An electrocardiogram demonstrated sinus rhythm with first degree atrioventricular block. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated severe lone central aortic insufficiency of a trileaflet valve due to leaflet thickening, retraction of leaflet margins and mild aortic root dilation in the setting of left ventricular dilatation. In addition, computed tomographic angiography revealed a small focal aneurysm of the distal transverse arch. He was found to be positive for the immunogenetic marker HLA-B27. The patient subsequently underwent uncomplicated mechanical aortic valve replacement. The diagnosis of HLA-B27 associated cardiac disease should be entertained in any individual with lone aortic insufficiency, especially if accompanied by conduction disease.

Treating reactive arthritis: insights for the clinician

THERE ARE TWO MAIN FORMS OF REACTIVE ARTHRITIS (REA): postvenereal and postdysentery. Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the major causative organism of the postvenereal type; Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia are the major triggers for the postenteric type. All of these causative organisms have been shown to traffic to the synovium in affected individuals. However, one important difference is that the chlamydial organisms have been shown to be viable, whereas, in general, the postenteric organisms are not. Although estimates vary widely, it is felt that 30-50% of all cases of ReA become chronic and the remainder resolve spontaneously within weeks to months. These important differences need to be considered when reviewing the available therapeutic outcomes data. There is a relative paucity of prospective clinical trial data assessing various treatment strategies. A large breadth of clinical experience demonstrates that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are efficacious, but there have only been two rather small trials assessing NSAIDs and none with corticosteroids. Disease modifying drugs are sometimes utilized in more severe or chronic cases, but only sulfasalazine (SSZ) has been studied. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy has proved remarkably efficacious with other types of spondyloarthritides, but there is very little data to support their use in ReA; theoretical concerns also exist with this drug class in ReA, specifically. Finally, antibiotics have been studied in several trials. A thorough analysis of these trials reveals equivocal results with a possible particular benefit in postchlamydial ReA. These data are reviewed with an emphasis on postchlamydial and postenteric ReA.

Polyarthritic, symmetric arthropathy in reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis (ReA) is an immune mediated disease, clinically associated with oligoarthritis of the lower limbs and sometimes with urethritis and conjunctivitis. In our case, a 24-year-old male presented with severe mutilating arthritis involving both upper and lower extremities in contrast to conventional Reiter's syndrome which presents with asymmetric oligoarthritis. He had multiple well-defined, irregular, erythematous, hyperkeratotic, scaly and itchy plaques, not easily distinguishable from pustular psoriasis. The patient also gave history of circinate balanitis and urethritis. He was started on methotrexate (7.5 mg/week, later escalated to 15 mg/week with 15 mg/day folinic acid supplementation) to which he responded. But when he stopped it on his own, the symptoms recurred. Hence, methotrexate was restarted, but still the patient suffers from fixed flexion deformities in affected joints. Histopathological examination of skin lesions is also suggestive of ReA. Thus, this case report suggests that diagnosis of Reiter's should be considered in symmetrical, mutilating polyarthritis patients with typical skin lesions.

Arthritis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and Other Sequelae of Campylobacter jejuni Enteritis †

The most frequently identified cause of gastroenteritis in developed countries is Campylobacter jejuni . In the United States, dairy products are the food sources commonly associated with outbreaks; however, most cases of C. jejuni gastroenteritis are sporadic, with poultry as the major source. Diarrhea, malaise, fever, and abdominal pain are the usual symptoms of C. jejuni enteritis. Lasting only a few days, the illness is generally self-limiting; however, some cases may be more severe. Although several virulence factors have been identified in C. jejuni , their role in disease is currently unclear. C. jejuni has been linked to the acquisition of certain forms of sterile arthritides such as reactive arthritis and Reiter's syndrome and to acute generalized paralytic diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, Miller-Fisher syndrome, and Chinese paralytic syndrome. In addition, C. jejuni may induce diseases affecting the nervous system, circulatory system, and various organs, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Illnesses associated with C. jejuni have been estimated to cost the citizens of the United States several billion dollars annually.