Reiter syndrome, also known as reactive arthritis with conjunctivitis/urethritis/diarrhea, is a rare disease with psoriasis-like symptoms which often occurs after a bacterial infection. The syndrome often follows an infectious
urethritis (infection of the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the genital area) or infectious diarrhea. It is more common in patients who have the genetic marker called
HLA-B27 (as is psoriasis). Symptoms include inflammation of the eyes, arthritis and a thick scaly foot rash which mimics psoriasis called
keratoderma blenorrhagicum. Initial treatments include conservative measures such as range-of-motion exercises and joint injections of anti-inflammatory steroid medications. Fore more severe cases,
methotrexate,
infliximab,
acetretin and
cyclosporine may be used.
The disease is named after Hans Reiter, who unfortunately was also a Nazi war criminal involved in involuntary sterilization and concentration camp experiments involving typhus. For this reason the much more cumbersome reactive arthritis with conjunctivitis/urethritis/diarrhea moniker is sometimes preferred.
Take-Home Message
If your stubborn foot psoriasis is accompanied by eye inflammation and arthritis and was preceded by a bacterial infection, you may wish to ask your doctor about the possibility of Reiter syndrome.
Source:
James W, Berger T, Elston D. Andrew's Diseases of the Skin. Saunders (Elsevier) Canada. 2006 pages 202-203
