Diagnosis and treatment of reactive arthritis

Some people after acute intestinal or genitourinary infection develops a disease called reactive arthritis - purulent inflammation of the joints. This pathology is more common in men. Most often suffer from people between the ages of twenty to thirty years.

What research is needed to identify the disease

The doctor, in addition to the story about the development of the patient's illness, complaints and inspection data, a number of studies are needed. Usually performed:

• General and biochemical analysis of blood can determine the degree of inflammatory activity;
• Urinalysis is performed to detect urethritis Urethritis - a very male disease   and kidney damage;
• Immunological studies in which detect antibodies to infectious agents. This helps to determine what kind of microbe provoked arthritis;
• Radiography of the joints and spine.

In addition to these methods, the patient may be administered other studies. Indications for the doctor determines it individually.

Treatment

In identifying the source of infection antibiotics are appointed, based on the sensitivity of microorganisms to various drugs. Treatment of chlamydial arthritis held macrolides, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. Antibiotics are not used in inflammation of the joints associated with acute intestinal infection Acute intestinal infections - the most common disease in the autumn and summer .

To suppress the inflammatory process in the joints and spine enthesis used NSAIDs. If their inefficiency shown glucocorticoids. If reactive arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications   becomes prolonged or chronic, it is recommended sulfasalazine or methotrexate.

Most people have a favorable prognosis, and recovery occurs within one year. In other patients in the future are possible exacerbation of the inflammatory process and some reactive arthritis becomes chronic.

The diagnosis in the presence of a characteristic triad of symptoms is not difficult. The X-ray visible changes in the form of osteoporosis okolosustavnogo Osteoporosis - he threatens you?   (bone loss) and erosion of the articular surfaces, as well as the appearance of bone growths in different places (such as heel spurs). Analysis of synovial fluid reveals signs of joint inflammation. In addition, it identifies the main infection that caused the appearance of arthritis.

Treatment for reactive arthritis starts with treating the underlying disease causing it. In order to reduce inflammation and pain administered NSAIDs, sometimes - glucocorticoid hormones. There are also warming treatments, physiotherapy.

Prevention of reactive arthritis - a timely treatment of infectious diseases that can cause it.

Galina Romanenko

Causes of

It is not known the true causes of rheumatoid arthritis. It is known only to the fact that there is employed as genetic factors and environmental factors. In general, the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in a population of 1%. But if you have a close relative with the disease, such as a sister or mother, then the probability of the disease increases to 2-5%. If you have a twin who is ill with rheumatoid arthritis, the risk increases to 12-15%. This clearly indicates the relationship of the disease with a set of genes. There is also likely to involve environmental factors, such as a virus.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include swelling, pain and loss of flexibility of the joints, especially in the morning of their inflexibility. For the disease characterized by a symmetrical joint disease, i.e. both parts of the body. As a rule, people with rheumatoid arthritis, swollen and sore wrists, knuckles, ankles and toes.

As the disease affects more large joints: elbows, shoulders, knees and hip joints. Pain is usually not too strong, but blunt and protracted. Sometimes it can occur exacerbation, but most of the time the disease manifests itself in a fairly mild form. With the active manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis patients is common fatigue that is associated with the degree of inflammation of the affected joints, as well as with increased swelling and redness.

Is there a cure rheumatoid arthritis?

To date, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis does not exist, but there are effective means to alleviate the condition of patients. In some of them the disease is very soft, others for a long time the same periods of remission alternating with periods of exacerbations.

The general rule for all type of therapy is the rule of thirds: one-third of patients is improving, while others show slight improvements, and the third part shows no improvement at all. Greater efficiency shows a new class of drugs, called biologics. These drugs block certain proteins that cause inflammation in the body.

What still is helpful in treating the disease, in addition to drugs?

Almost all studies of pain or arthritis approximately 20-30% of patients in a certain way to respond to a placebo Placebo - an effective tool for self-hypnosis Which means that the expectation of improvement leads to changes in disease activity. And, in fact, are clear evidence and laboratory data on the improvement of the patients. Perhaps here the mechanisms involved, we do not yet understand.

In the presence of chronic diseases, and especially diseases of the joints such as rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications It is very important to maintain physical activity as much as possible to move. For this is perfect swimming. Training with the help of elliptic equipment instead of running and long walks - this is another great example of aerobic exercise, avoiding excessive exposure to the inflamed joints.

Can I get pregnant in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, a disease and give you a child?

Certainly, women with the disease can become pregnant and many women - from half to three quarters - pregnancy causes remission. Subsequently, after one or two months after birth disease almost always comes back or aggravation. Why is it unknown. There is a theory that during pregnancy, women's immune system is reconstructed in such a way as to prevent miscarriage Miscarriage - can you protect yourself from it? And as a consequence this begins remission.

During pregnancy, the dose and amount of drug x drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis - debunking myths about the disease   is reduced to a minimum. With some drugs (eg, MTX) for the treatment of diseases during gestation involve certain risks. So for about 6 months before conception expectant mothers are advised not to receive such drugs.

What new treatments are practiced within the next 5-10 years?

For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients will enter the newly emerging biologics. Now the scientists is to develop a formula tablets for oral use, which would reproduce the effects of biological products. It is also a serious interest is personalized medicine, based on the study of a set of genes of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, which will not make guesses, but simply to count the right combination of medicines. Thus, based on a specific set of genes that can develop a program of treatment.

Also conducted studies of how to begin the development of rheumatoid arthritis. There is ample evidence of the fact that the disease progresses over many years. Our task - at an early stage to intervene in the course of its development, and, if possible, to do so even before the patient's symptoms.