Reactive arthritis pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pathophysiology
It is set off by a preceding infection, the most common of which would be a genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in the US.
Reactive arthritis usually manifests about 1-3 weeks after a known infection. The mechanism of interaction between the infecting organism and the host is unknown. Synovial fluid cultures are negative, suggesting that RA is caused either by an over-excited autoimmune response or by bacterial antigens which have somehow become deposited in the joints.