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Last updated Friday, February 11, 2005
Basics of reiter's syndrome
Reiter's syndrome is a form of arthritis that produces pain, swelling, redness, and heat in the joints. It is one of a family of arthritic disorders affecting the spine. Reiter's commonly involves the joints of the spine and the sacroiliac joints, areas where the spine attaches to the pelvis.
In 1916 Hans Reiter, a German military physician, described the disease in a World War I soldier who had recovered from a bout of diarrhea. Dr. Reiter described three characteristic features of the disease: inflammation of the joints, urinary tract, and eyes. More recently, doctors have recognized a fourth major feature: ulcerations of the skin and mouth.
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