[The typical features and clinical characteristics of Reiter's syndrome with a nonvenereal origin].

Analysis of the clinical picture in 37 patients with Reiter's syndrome unrelated to venereal urethritis showed that in the majority of cases, it was preceded by acute intestinal infection which occasionally ran an unmarked course. The difficulties in diagnosing Reiter's syndrome were caused in some patients by the fact that in the disease debut, conjunctivitis and urethritis were little manifest and of short duration or occurred at the later stages, especially where the triad was preceded by the provoking factors, such as supercooling and nasopharyngeal infection. Also, in the acute phase of the disease, the patients demonstrated catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, the signs of myocardial injury and some symptoms characteristic of other rheumatological diseases. In this connection attention is drawn to the necessity of inquiring after the patients' health and sensations in doubtful cases, including the elucidation of the epidemiological anamnesis, thorough examination of the patients on admission to hospital and during the treatment to specify both the main and additional signs of Reiter's syndrome, and analysis of the disease course.