Reiter's keratitis

D. B. Mark and J. B. McCulley

A distinctive keratitis occurs commonly in Reiter's syndrome. In three patients with Reiter's keratitis, two demonstrated the typical features of prodromal conjunctivitis, subepithelial and anterior stromal infiltrates, ragged epithelial erosions, and spontaneous resolution. A third case of rare, severe keratitis in addition had an associated finding of disciform keratitis. To our knowledge, this last finding has not previously been reported. Chlamydia has been implicated as an etiologic agent in Reiter's syndrome. Giemsa's stain of corneal epithelial cells in one of our patients disclosed intracytoplasmic inclusions that resembled those seen in Chlamydia-caused conjunctivitis. The patient also exhibited a rising serum titer to Chlamydia antigen.