REACTIVE ARTHRITIS: A CASE REPORT AT THE MOHAMMED V MILITARY TRAINING HOSPITAL IN RABAT

Abstract

Reactive arthritis (RA) is a type of joint inflammation that usually occurs after a genitourinary or digestive infection, without the presence of germs in the joint itself. It often presents as asymmetric arthritis, joint pain, swelling, deformities in fingers or toes, and various skin or mucosal symptoms. The diagnosis is mainly based on clinical signs and is frequently associated with spondyloarthropathies, with severe cases often linked to the presence of the HLA-B27 gene.We present the case of a 23-year-old patient admitted to the Mohammed V Military Training Hospital in Rabat for bilateral knee pain, lumbosciatica, dactylitis, urethral discharge, and bloody mucus diarrhea. Radiographic and MRI examinations were atypical for RA, showing neither focal bone lesions nor intra-articular effusion. Biological tests revealed leukocytosis, an elevated sedimentation rate, and high CRP levels, while the joint fluid remained sterile. Tests detected an infection with Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis through PCR, along with a co-infection with hepatitis C. HLA-B27 genotyping and the presence of antinuclear antibodies were also noted.