Reiter's syndrome, which is also known as reactive arthritis, is an autoimmune disease that results from infection, usually bacterial, in another part of the body. By the time that Reiter's is diagnosed, the initial infection has often been cured. The symptoms occur within a few weeks of the initial infection.

The arthritis of the large joints such as the knee is often accompanied by other inflammatory symptoms and include:

• Inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis and/or uveitis)
• Inflammation of the urethra in men (causing painful urination). There may also be prostate inflammation (Prostatitis)
• Inflammation of the uterine cervix in women. There may also be inflammation of the fallopian tubes (Salpingitis) or vulva/vagina (vulvovaginitis)

Other symptoms that accompany Reiter's Syndrome include:

• Psoriasis-like skin lesions
• Nodules on the soles of the feet (keratoderma blennorrhagicum)
• Mouth ulcers
• Heel pain cause by enthesitis, an inflammation of the junction between tendons and bone
• Achilles tendonitis
• Inflammation of the glans penis (balanitis circinata)
• Swelling of the toes or fingers

Those who have prolonged Reiter's syndrome may progress to cardiac disease. About 10% of Reiter's patients fall into this category.

Reiter's syndrome is associated with HLA B27.

Among tyhe infectious agents known to cause Reiter's Syndrome are:

• Chlamydia trachomatis
• Ureaplasma urealyticum
• Species of Salmonella
• Species of Yersinia
• Species of Campylobacter
• Species of Shigella

Sometimes the disease may be self-limiting but it can also be chronic with recurring bouts of arthritis.

The incidence of Reiter's Syndrome is hard to gauge as it is often not reported. After Chlamydia or enteric bacterial infection, the rate of Reiter's development is about 5 per 100,000.

Reactive arthritis after a Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease) bacterial infection. CDC

Keratoderma blennorrhagica due to Reiter's syndrome. CDC/Dr. M. F. Rein

Circinate balanitis of the glans penis due to Reiter's syndrome. CDC/Dr. Wiesner