What is Reiter’s disease? How is it diagnosed and treated?

  Reiter’s disease is also known as urothelial-ocular-synovial syndrome. It is now thought to be related to chlamydial infection. Recently, it has been found that the occurrence of this disease is related to HLA-B27 antigen, and there can be a family history, so it is considered to be related to genetics as well.  Diagnostic points: 1. Urethritis The acute phase is characterized by hematuria, painful urination, and purulent urethral discharge. In women, vaginitis and cervicitis may occur.  2. Eye lesions Half of the patients develop conjunctivitis. Iriditis or uveitis occurs in some patients. It is often recurrent. Occasionally, corneal ulcers are seen.  3. Arthritic lesions are often acute arthritic manifestations, symmetrical or asymmetrical, mostly in the knee, ankle, and interphalangeal joints. There is fluid accumulation in the joint cavity. Chronic phase may lead to joint deformity.  4. Skin manifests as oyster shell-like psoriasis-like damage. Mostly occurs on the head, perineum, trunk and palmoplantar area. Keratotic damage may also occur. In addition, the oral mucosa may have red papules, blisters and erosions.  5. Other manifestations: The acute phase may be accompanied by fever, malaise, pleurisy, pericarditis, myocarditis, etc.  6, the course of the disease: the above four groups of symptoms do not always appear, but only two or three groups. The prognosis is mostly good, but a few severe cases may die from complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding.  7. Histopathology Early changes are similar to pustular psoriasis. There are spongy pustules within the epidermis.  Treatment points: 1. If chlamydial infection is present, antibiotic treatment such as azithromycin should be given.  2. Aspirin 2-4g/day, POTUS 40mg/day, or prednisone 40-60mg/day is effective for acute arthritis. Methotrexate 10mg/week, intramuscular injection, is satisfactory for the treatment of rash and arthritis.  3. Memantine 100mg/day, orally, is effective for rash and arthritis. Chloroquine 0.25g/day is helpful for patients in chronic stage.