Ciprofloxacin treatment does not influence course or relapse rate of reactive arthritis and anterior uveitis

Objective. To assess the efficacy of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of reac tive arthritis (ReA) and anterior uveitis (AU) in a double-blind, randomize d, placebo-controlled trial. Methods. Seventy-two patients participated in this study, 56 with ReA and 4 2 with AU (26 patients had both ReA and AU). Ciprofloxacin (750 mg twice a day) was administered for 12 months with a 12-month followup. End points of the study included time to disease relapse and measures of disease severit y. Results. There was no difference between groups in time to disease relapse, joint inflammation, number of joints and enthesis involved in patients wit h ReA, or signs and symptoms of AU. Conclusion. Long-term treatment of ReA and AU with ciprofloxacin made no st atistically significant difference to the natural history of these diseases or their severity.