Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis

Vilija Černiauskienė, Marija Jakutovič, Violeta Panavienė¹

Vilnius University Children’s Hospital, ¹Center for Pediatrics, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Key words: streptococcal infections, arthritis, poststreptococcal reactive arthritis, acute rheumatic fever.

Summary. Arthritis, following infection caused by group A β-hemolytic streptococcus, is classically attributed to acute rheumatic fever. However, a new clinical syndrome, called poststreptococcal reactive arthritis, as a distinct entity from acute rheumatic fever, was described recently. The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of published information on poststreptococcal reactive arthritis. The paper outlines its clinical description and proposed diagnostic criteria. Similarities and differences between poststreptococcal reactive arthritis and acute rheumatic fever are discussed. Information regarding long-term risk of carditis following poststreptococcal reactive arthritis is provided, and therapeutic recommendations are outlined.

Correspondence to V. Černiauskienė, Vilnius University Children’s Hospital, Santariškių 4, 01102 Vilnius, Lithuania E-mail: gedimi@takas.lt

Received 24 March 2003, accepted 1 April 2004