Reactive Arthritis Triad — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

Correct answer: C — Arthritis, urethritis and conjunctivitis

The classic triad is arthritis, urethritis and conjunctivitis. Reactive arthritis typically presents several weeks after a gastrointestinal or genitourinary infection, commonly with acute asymmetric oligoarthritis affecting lower-limb joints. The complete triad is not required for diagnosis. Dactylitis and enthesitis are associated spondyloarthritis manifestations but do not form the classic triad. Anterior uveitis can occur in reactive arthritis, but replacing conjunctivitis and urethritis with uveitis and psoriasis describes a broader spondyloarthritis phenotype rather than the triad. Alopecia with photosensitivity suggests systemic lupus erythematosus, while recurrent oral and genital ulceration suggests Behçet disease. The historical eponym “Reiter syndrome” is no longer preferred; the condition should be termed reactive arthritis.

Reference: Nadarajah J. Reactive arthritis: the convoluted history of Reiter's disease. Rheumatology International. 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37805646/