Reiter’s syndrome

Reiter's syndrome, called reactive arthritis, is a condition caused by an immunological reaction to infection. It was first described in 1916 by Hans Reiter and again, independently, in the same year by Fiessinger and Leroy who called the condition oculo-urethro-synovial syndrome. Reiter's syndrome is associated with infection by several pathogenic bacterial species such as Shigella, Salmonella and Campylobacter, and the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia trachomatis, which causes genito-urinary infections. Reiter's syndrome usually develops two to six weeks after non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis infection. The disease is caused by a systemic and intrasynovial autoimmune response to the infection. There is a classic triad of conditions comprising Reiter's syndrome: urethritis, Conjunctivitis and arthritis. Diagnosis of Reiter's syndrome is confirmed using laboratory and imaging tests. There is a fusion of both SI joints, and visible lower facet joints suggests Reiter's syndrome.