Rheumatology B

Reactive Arthritis Criteria (Berlin 1999)

Simplified criteria for diagnosing reactive arthritis (formerly Reiter's syndrome). Asymmetric oligoarthritis following infection.

Result

There is no validated points score for reactive arthritis. The Berlin 1999 workshop criteria use two major criteria — (1) arthritis with 2 of: asymmetric, mono- or oligoarthritis, lower-limb predominance; (2) a preceding symptomatic infection 3 days to 6 weeks before the arthritis (diarrhoea or urethritis for at least 1 day) — and minor criteria: laboratory evidence of the triggering infection (urine, cervical/urethral swab or stool) or of persistent synovial infection. Definite: both major criteria plus a minor criterion; probable: both major criteria, or one major plus one minor (Selmi & Gershwin, Autoimmun Rev 2014). Exclude septic arthritis, gout and other spondyloarthritis.

References

Selmi C, Gershwin ME. Diagnosis and classification of reactive arthritis. Autoimmun Rev. 2014;13(4–5):546–549.

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Drugs

Pathways

Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.

References

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