Criteria of the Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Rheumatologie for Reactive Arthritis

Clinical features:

(1) typical peripheral arthritis - asymmetrical oligoarthritis, involving the lower extremity, especially the knee and ankle joints

(2) typical history of diarrhea or urethritis and/or clinical manifestations of infection at onset

Laboratory identification of a pathogen:

(3) on culture

(4) serologic response (specific antibody and/or diagnostic titer)

(5) presence of HLA-B27

(6) demonstration by PCR or use of a specific monoclonal antibodies

where:

• The criteria do not include exclusions for other rheumatologic disorders, septic arthritis, or other diagnoses.