Concluding remarks

Abstract

A number of speakers have suggested that Reiters syndrome (RS) is a misnomer. Alternatives such as 'sexually acquired reactive arthritis' or the much maligned 'B27-associated disease' have been put forward. But they have obvious drawbacks-the first in assuming that all urethritis is sexually acquired (something that, to my mind, is questionable dogma) and the second because over 20 % of these cases are B27-negative. The problem was stated by Dr. J. T. Scott, who concluded: 'we all know what we're talking about but can't define it'. The important observations on incomplete forms of RS have opened up-as they do in almost all rheumatological syndromes-the shady areas of overlap, where dogma is especially out of place. Certainly, from the historic viewpoint, RS is wrongly named. Although the syndrome probably dates from prechristian times the best early description