U.C.L.A. Rheumatology Pathophysiology of Disease Course Lecture,
Second Year Medical School 1997

  
 
  FirstPreviousNextLast Page 22
 
 
 
Ankylosing Spondylitis     Page 22
   ......Index Go to Previous page .....Go to Next page
 


      has been described. The musculoskeletal symptoms of Reiter's Syndrome are different from those of AS. Axial symptoms are less severe and may only affect the sacroiliac joints, and sometimes only unilaterally. Peripheral arthritis is more intense and fingers and toes may be swollen. Unlike RA the pathological process still appears centered in the capsules and ligamentous attachments rather than the synovium, resulting in "sausage-shaped" digits (figure 5).
       Reiter's Syndrome is also associated with conjunctivitis, urethritis, shallow ulcers on the tongue and palate, rashes on the palms and soles (keratoderma blenorrhagica) and a rash around the glans penis (circinate balanitis). These features are not seen in AS. The clinical differences between AS and Reiter's Syndrome may be the result of different infectious exposures in the same genetically susceptible host, or there may be subtle genetic and immunological differences between the two conditions which are as yet undetermined.		    
Figure 5. The short arrow shows the dactylitis of RS whereas the long arrow shows the fusiform swelling of a toe joint in a patient with RA. Click thumbnail figure to view full graphic. jpeg 219 x 164 pixels 17kbs freehand 3dstudio max
Click Picture or here for larger slide and further discussion (640 x 480) 87kb
   
  FirstPreviousNextLast Page 22
 
  ......Index Go to Previous page .....Go to Next page
About Us | Contact Us | ©2005 This web site has been developed and maintained by Craig W. Wiesenhutter, M.D.