Reactive arthritis which occurred one year after acute chlamydial urethritis

Intern Med. 2008;47(7):663-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.47.0581. Epub 2008 Apr 1.

Abstract

A 30-year-old Japanese man developed dactylitis with sausage-like fingers in addition to balanitis and stomatitis. One year prior to these symptoms, acute chlamydial urethritis had been successfully treated by levofloxacin. On admission, Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was not detected in the urine sediment by PCR method, however, he was diagnosed to have reactive arthritis based on the clinical findings of asymmetric dactylitis, circinate balanitis, stomatitis and positivity for HLA B27 antigen. He was treated with methotrexate and his arthritis improved. The past chlamydial infection may have been involved in the pathogenesis of reactive arthritis in this patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Reactive / diagnosis*
  • Arthritis, Reactive / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Reactive / etiology
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications
  • Chlamydia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Chlamydia Infections / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Time Factors
  • Urethritis / complications
  • Urethritis / diagnosis*
  • Urethritis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents