SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF SEVERE REITERS-SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION WITH ETRETINATE - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Two patients who presented with severe Reiter's syndrome were found to have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Their arthritis an d cutaneous lesions responded poorly to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and topical corticosteroid therapy. Dramatic improvement of the arthritis and cutaneous lesions was seen 4 weeks after etretinate was added to the treatment. The potential role of etretinate in the treatm ent of severe Reiter's syndrome associated with HIV infection is empha sized.