Sexually acquired reactive arthritis

Aseptic arthritis associated with genital-tract infection is probably the commonest form of acute arthritis affecting young adult males in the western world. In the light of recent highly significant advances in the fields of genetics and microbiology this condition is also of prime importance as the archetype of a genetically determined disorder, which is precipitated by external environmental influences. As awareness of this form of arthritis increases, so the considerable breadth of the spectrum of clinical features is becoming apparent, with, in particular, increasing recognition of patients with mild disease and an excellent prognosis. This disorder is also being diagnosed more frequently in women. In recent years, the definitions and terms used to apply to this form of arthritis have come under close scrutiny and it is clear that no existing term satisfactorily describes the whole spectrum of disease presently recognised as resulting from urogenital or gastrointestinal infection, without infection being present in the joint. Consequently, a plethora of terms has been introduced; an attempt at rationalisation of terminology is presented below. We consider that the term ‘reactive arthritis’ most accurately describes this multifaceted disorder.