REITERS-SYNDROME AMONG ASIAN SHIPBOARD IMMIGRANTS - THE CASE OF THE GOLDEN VENTURE

Objective: To assess the incidence of Reiter's syndrome aboard The Gol den Venture, a ship carrying illegal immigrants from China to the Unit ed States. Methods: After identification of an index case, we conducte d telephone interviews with medical staff at immigrant detention cente rs in Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. When a potential case was identified at one facility, we performed a site inspection, reviewing the medical records of all detainees and performing histories and phys icals on all those with joint and/or ocular complaints. Results: We id entified two patients, both HLA B27 positive, with Reiter's syndrome. The observed incidence (0.87%) approximated the predicted incidence bu t may have underestimated the actual incidence. We review the history of shipboard Reiter's syndrome, and discuss the pathogenic roles of HL A B27 and particular infectious agents. Conclusion: Continued transpor tation of illegal immigrants from China and other parts of the world i s likely to result in occasional clusters of Reiter's syndrome. Physic ians treating immigrant populations should remain aware of the possibi lity of reactive arthritis. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Compan y.