Reactive arthritis associated with an amebic liver abscess.

The term “reactive arthritis” was first introducedby Aho et al. in 1973 for conditions following infection in other organs in which no microbial antigens could be isolated from the joint. Rheumatic fever, Reiter’s syndrome and postenteric reactive arthritis constitute the major clinical forms of the disease. A number of unrelated organisms have been implicated in association with the disease. These include bacteria viruses, protozoa, fungi and helminths 5. The protozoa constitute a rare cause of reactive arthritis. Those reported in association with the disease to produce arthritis and/or arthmlgia include Giardia lamblia, trypanosomes, plasmodia, trichomonas, Babesia microti, Blastocystis hominis and cry ptosporidium. We believe that amoebiasis has never been reported in association with reactive arthritis. Here we report a case of reactive arthritis following an amebic liver abscess.