CHANGE IN THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF REITERS-SYNDROME (REACTIVE ARTHRITIS) IN THE POST-AIDS ERA - AN ANALYSIS OF CASES APPEARING IN THE GREEK ARMY

Objective. During the last 5 years we observed a significant decrease in the incidence of newly established cases of Reiter's syndrome (reac tive arthritis) in Greek Army personnel. Our study was initiated to va lidate this observation and to evaluate a possible change in the preva lence of Reiter's syndrome (RS) associated infections. Methods. The ca se records of patients with reactive arthritis (ReA) admitted during t he periods 1980-83 and 1989-92 at a large Army Hospital were studied r etrospectively and the cases of RS were reviewed. In addition, the pre valence of cases with urethritis and dysentery that presented to the h ospital in the same periods was studied in retrospect, as these infect ions are known to participate in the etiopathogenesis of RS. Results. A significant decrease in the overall incidence of the randomly presen ted RS cases during the second 4 year period was detected (27 versus 4 cases, p < 0.0001, chi(2) test). A similar significant decrease in th e number of cases with gonococcal and nongonococcal urethritis was obs erved while the prevalence of dysentery was not significantly altered during the defined intervals. Conclusion. We suggest that the anti-AID S campaign which began after the years 1984-85 is the principal cause of the observed change of epidemiology of RS cases appearing in the Gr eek Army.