On the difficulties of establishing a consensus on the definition of and diagnostic investigations for reactive arthritis. Results and discussion of a questionnaire prepared for the 4th International Workshop on Reactive Arthritis, Berlin, Germany, July 3-6, 1999.

摘要: Objective There is no agreement on how to classify and diagnose reactive arthritis (ReA) it also unclear what kind of specific clinical laboratory investigations are appropriate. We define relevant points identify disagreement among an international group experts in the field. Methods Prior 4th International Workshop Reactive Arthritis, Berlin, July 1999, we sent questionnaires 42 identified by personal knowledge recent publications. Results The response rate was 81% (n = 34). nomenclature recommendation use term "reactive arthritis" only if picture microbes involved HLA-B27 spondyloarthropathy (SpA) associated, whereas "infection related used for all other arthritides or associated with infections. A differentiation between acute chronic ReA a cutoff 6 months recommended. history preceding symptomatic infection thought be most diagnosis ReA. minimal interval symptoms proposed 1-7 days, maximally 4 weeks. joint pattern asymmetrical, predominance lower limbs. SpA may contribute diagnosis. search chlamydia urine/urethra/cervix recommended, while case diarrhea enterobacteria should searched stool antibodies against them serum. were areas disagreement, such as: Is essential ReA?, oligoarthritis any arthritis?, What role value polymerase chain reaction investigation?, serology?, diagnostic sensitivity microbiological tests increased determination? Conclusion will support better communication this area, clarification disagreements lead further studies discussion.