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Reactive arthritis
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of reactive arthritis are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR 2023), the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR 2023), the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH 2021), and the American College of Radiology (ACR 2017).
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Diagnostic investigations
Diagnostic imaging
As per ACR 2017 guidelines:
Obtain radiography (often showing characteristic osseous findings) as initial imaging in patients with suspected seronegative spondyloarthropathy.
E
Obtain ultrasound or MRI to complement radiography by showing synovitis and identifying additional erosions.
E
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Pretreatment evaluation
Medical management
Antimicrobial therapy: as per BASHH 2021 guidelines, treat any identified genital infection with antimicrobial therapy as in uncomplicated infection, as directed by relevant infection guidelines.
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NSAIDs
Systemic corticosteroids
DMARDs
Biologic agents
TCAs
Topical therapies
Management of uveitis
Nonpharmacologic interventions
Rest: as per BASHH 2021 guidelines, advise rest as part of first-line treatment for constitutional symptoms, enthesitis and arthritis, particularly in weight-bearing joints and tendons.
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Supportive measures
Physiotherapy
Therapeutic procedures
Intra-articular corticosteroid injections
As per BASHH 2021 guidelines:
Insufficient evidence to recommend intra-articular corticosteroid injections in patients with sexually acquired reactive arthritis for single troublesome joints.
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Consider administering local corticosteroid injections for enthesitis, with judicious use at weight-bearing sites.
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Medical synovectomy
Radiotherapy
Surgical interventions
Specific circumstances
Pregnant patients: as per BASHH 2021 guidelines, avoid using drugs not licensed in pregnancy or during breastfeeding unless the potential benefit outweighs the risk.
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Patients with HIV
Preventative measures
Routine immunizations: as per ACR 2023 guidelines, consider offering high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccination, rather than regular-dose influenza vaccination, in ≥ 65 years old patients with rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases and in 18-65 years old patients with rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases on immunosuppressive medications.
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Prophylaxis for P. jirovecii pneumonia