Reactive arthritis induced by bacterial vaginosis: prevention with an effective treatment

ABSTRACT

We report a 42-year-old woman with reactive arthritis induced by bacterial vaginosis who presented with oligoarthritis with an additive form, arthralgia, and enthesitis. She hasn't had a history of diarrhea or dysuria or vaginal secretion, or sexually transmitted infections [STIs]. The laboratory tests were normal except for a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]. Her pelvic examination revealed homogeneous white grey and malodorous vaginal discharge on the vaginal wall and Pap smear and Gram-stained smear of vaginal swab was consistent with bacterial vaginosis. She responded to metronidazole therapy and her six-month follow up hasn't shown recurrence of arthritis. As reactive arthritis [ReA] is a paradigm of a rheumatic disease in which the initiating infectious cause is known, so early use of antimicrobial drugs may prevent the development of musculoskeletal symptoms which are triggered by infections