Reactive arthritis

During the past year, no big advances were reported in understanding the pa thogenesis or treatment of reactive arthritis (ReA). The need for generally accepted diagnostic criteria has become a central issue. Regarding pathoge nesis, attention has been drawn to a similarity between ReA and the experim ental antigen-induced arthritis. Molecular mechanisms of the HLA-B27-associ ated pathogenesis have remained, in spite of intensive research, so far a m ystery. It is apparent that antibiotics have no effect on the fully develop ed reactive arthritis, with the exception of patients with Chlamydia-trigge red ReA, who might benefit from a course of antibiotics. (C) 2000 Lippincot t Williams & Wilkins, Inc.