Research Progress Related to Reactive Arthritis
Investigators at institutions across the country, many supported by the National Institutes of Health, are working to understand how reactive arthritis arises and to develop new treatment strategies.
Current research efforts include the following.
- Investigators are searching for clues to how infection with certain bacteria, such as Chlamydia or Yersinia, activates inflammatory pathways that lead to reactive arthritis.
- A small minority of people get reactive arthritis following infection with certain bacteria, while most people do not develop the condition. By mining data from patient registries, researchers are seeking to identify genetic and environmental factors that contribute to raising a person’s risk of reactive arthritis.
- Scientists are testing the effectiveness of drugs called biologic response modifiers in people who do not respond to other therapies. These medications block the activity of specific immune molecules, helping to decrease or stop inflammation.
For more info
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
Website: cdc.gov/nchs (en inglés)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Website: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx (en inglés)
American College of Rheumatology
Website: rheumatology.org (en inglés)
Spondylitis Association of America
Website: spondylitis.org (en inglés)
If you need more information about available resources in your language or other languages, please visit our webpages below or contact the NIAMS Information Clearinghouse at NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov. You can also find a variety of information from organizations that are NIAMS Coalition Members.