Disseminated gonococcal disease in pediatrics: Case report and review of the literature.

Hematogenous spread of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a sexually transmitted pathogen, results in disseminated gonococcal disease (DGD), also known as arthritis-dermatitis syndrome, due to the development of skin lesions, tenosynovitis, and arthritis. The most frequently affected population is young adults. We describe the case of an adolescent female who acutely developed skin lesions, arthritis, tenosynovitis, and constitutional symptoms. The causal agent was identified by a culture of vaginal secretion and treated with ceftriaxone for 7 days with complete recovery. It is important to differentiate this clinical picture from other types of arthritis developed in adolescence.

Ultrasound-detected tenosynovitis as a risk factor for flares in rheumatoid arthritis patients in clinical remission.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to investigate the value of ultrasound (US) detected synovitis and tenosynovitis as risk factors for short term flare in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in clinical remission. METHODS: Consecutive RA patients in clinical remission (DAS28 ERS < 2.6) for at least 3 months underwent Power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) examination of 1st to 6th extensor compartments at the wrist, 2nd to 5th finger flexor, posterior tibial tendon, and peroneal tendons. To assess synovitis, carpal joints, 1st to 5th metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and 2nd to 5th interphalangeal proximal (IPP) joints were bilaterally examined. Synovitis and tenosynovitis were defined according to OMERACT. Patients were followed for 1 year. Disease flare was defined as an increase in disease activity generating the need for a change in therapy by the attending rheumatologist. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included. After 1 year of follow-up, 26 patients (29%) experienced a flare. At baseline 39%, 23% and 8% had US-detected synovitis, tenosynovitis or both, respectively. In the 1-year period after the baseline US examination, US-detected tenosynovitis (RR: 4.9; 95% CI: 2.2-10.8) was associated with an increased risk of exacerbation. This association was not shown with US-detected synovitis (RR: 1.3; 95% CI: 0.76-2.2). In the multivariate analysis, only subclinical tenosynovitis (OR: 9.8; 95% CI: 2.5-39.1; p = 0.001) and baseline DAS28 (OR: 5.7; 95% CI: 1.1-31.6; p = 0.047) were significantly associated with an increased risk of having a flare. CONCLUSION: In our study, subclinical tenosynovitis was associated with disease flare in patients with RA in clinical remission. KEY POINTS: • Synovitis and tenosynovitis are risk factors for short term flare in RA patients in clinical remission. • Subclinical tenosynovitis, but not synovitis, was associated with disease flare in patients with unstable remission. • Ultrasound-detected tenosynovitis could be useful to predict relapses in RA patients in clinical remission.

Characterizing hand and wrist ultrasound pattern in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a case-control study.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical relevance of high-resolution hand and wrist ultrasound (US) findings and their possible associations with anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: Ninety-seven consecutive pSS patients (American-European Consensus Group, 2002) without meeting the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria (1987) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); 20 RA patients (ACR/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria, 2010); and 80 healthy individuals with comparable age, gender, and ethnicity were enrolled in a case-control study. Disease activity was assessed by EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI). US was performed by one expert blinded to anti-CCP, anti-MCV, and IgM rheumatoid factor tested by ELISA. RESULTS: Frequencies of grade 3 synovitis (9.3 vs. 0%, p = 0.004), tenosynovitis (36.1 vs. 3.8%, p < 0.001), and erosions (27.8 vs. 7.5%, p = 0.001) on US were higher in pSS patients than in healthy controls. ESSDAI presented a moderate correlation with the synovitis number (p = 0.001) and tenosynovitis (p < 0.001). Most pSS patients with erosions on US (81.5%) had negative anti-CCP. Nevertheless, anti-CCP ≥ 3× cut-off value was associated with the presence of erosions in pSS (p = 0.026). Erosions in pSS were mainly small size contrasting with moderate/large size in RA (p < 0.001), and positive power Doppler synovitis predominated in RA (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: US identified significant frequencies of grade 3 synovitis, tenosynovitis, and erosions in pSS. Synovitis and tenosynovitis numbers were correlated with ESSDAI. Association between erosions on US and anti-CCP (high titers) in pSS possibly identifies a subgroup with severe arthritis. These findings suggest that US is a useful method for assessing joint involvement in pSS.Key Points• US identified significant frequencies of grade 3 synovitis, tenosynovitis, and erosions in pSS patients in comparison with age- and race-healthy individuals.• Numbers of synovitis and tenosynovitis on US were correlated with ESSDAI values.• Most pSS patients with erosions on US were negative for anti-CCP, but anti-CCP ≥ 3× cut-off value was associated with the presence of erosions in this disease.• Erosions in pSS were mainly small size contrasting with moderate/large size in RA, and positive power Doppler synovitis predominated in RA.

Ankle pain in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison of clinical and sonographic findings.

To describe the prevalence and distribution of clinical and ultrasound (US) pathological findings at ankle level and to compare them, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study assessing patients diagnosed with RA according to the 2010 ACR criteria, who were recruited consecutively and independently of disease status or treatment and of the presence of pain at ankle level. Clinical and US findings were acquired by two independent rheumatologists. US assessments were performed according to the EULAR and OMERACT indications. A total of 224 ankles of 112 RA patients were examined. One hundred (89.3%) patients were women and 12 (10.7%) were men, with a mean age of 51 years. RA mean disease duration was 72 months. Ankle spontaneous pain was found in 56.2% of the patients. In 65.2% of the patients, US found at least one pathologic sign indicative of joint and/or tendon pathology. Using grayscale US, joint involvement was more frequently found than tendon pathology (37.5% vs 22.3%). Conversely, no substantial difference was found between the prevalence of power Doppler signal at joint and tendon level. There was a significant correlation between clinical findings and US findings indicative of tibiotalar joint synovitis and peroneal tenosynovitis. In the present study, pain and US pathologic findings at ankle level were described and compared in a cohort of RA patients. Spontaneous pain was found in more than half of the patients and US found joint involvement more prevalent than tendon pathology.

Ultrasound Findings on Hands and Wrists of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Relationship with Physical Examination.

Diagnosis of synovitis/tenosynovitis by physical examination can be difficult. Ultrasound (US) can be an effective tool for the evaluation of joint involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study will describe musculoskeletal findings by US in SLE patients and the evaluation of their correlation with physical examination. SLE patients underwent clinical/sonographic evaluation of hand/wrists. In total, 896 joints were evaluated: at least 1 change on physical examination was found in 136 joints and at least 1 US abnormality was found in 65 of 896 joints. Out of the 65 joints with US changes, only 13 had findings on physical examination. Conversely, 111 joints had tenderness on physical examination with no sonographic abnormalities. Tenosynovitis was statistically significant more frequently with joint edema (41%) (p = 0.0003). US can detect musculoskeletal changes in only a minority of symptomatic SLE patients. Clinical findings may be related to some reasons that cannot be explained using US.

Ultrasound evaluation of joints in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review is to describe the scientific evidence regarding sonographic findings of joints in SLE patients. METHODS: Seven databases were searched (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Cochrane, EMBASE, LILACS, and SciELO) for articles from 1950 to January 2015. The keywords used for selecting articles include "lupus", "ultrasound imaging", "ultrasonography", "synovitis", "tenosynovitis", and "arthritis". RESULTS: A total of 12 articles were included in the final analysis. In total, 610 SLE patients and 1,091 joints were studied. Most patients underwent bilateral joint examination by US. A total of 888 hands and wrists, 154 ankles/feet, and 56 knees were examined. Effusion was identified in 602 joints, synovitis in 213, tenosynovitis in 210, synovial hypertrophy in 150, and bone erosions in 73 cases. The majority of the studies demonstrated higher frequency of musculoskeletal abnormalities on US than those observed on physical examination. CONCLUSION: US seems to be a valuable tool to identify subclinical joint manifestations in SLE. Prospective studies are necessary to determine if those patients with subclinical joint abnormalities have a higher risk for the development of chronic deformities as those seen in Jaccoud's Arthropathy. KEY POINTS: • Musculoskeletal involvement occurs in more than 90% of SLE cases. • Arthralgia or tender/swollen joints found on physical examination showed more US findings. • Patients without joint symptoms or physical examinations changes showed musculoskeletal sonographic findings. • US became a useful tool for rheumatologists. • A substantial number of asymptomatic patients show abnormalities at musculoskeletal US.

Tenosinovitis química de dedo medio por corticoides intraarticulares con evolución a síndrome compartimental en paciente con lupus eritematoso sistémico / Chemical tenosynovitis in middle finger after intra-articular corticosteroids infiltration evolving to compartment syndrome in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the tendon and synovial sheath. It is commonly affects hands and wrist. The etiology may be infectious or inflammatory. In patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) the periarticular and tendinous commitment is frequent. Intra-articular corticosteroids (CO) are effective as adjuvant of the systemic therapy. Complications of use are infrequent. The case of a female patient is presented, 32 years old, with SLE and chronic renal failure secondary to lupus nephritis, chronic user of oral CO. She is infiltrates with intra-articular deposit betamethasone in metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP), because of articular edema. Twelve days later evolves with Compartment Syndrome (SC). Fasciotomy show findings compatible with chemical synovitis by betamethasone crystals. Currently there are quite few reports in the literature of CS with presentation in fingers. The diagnosis is mainly clinical. The common use of intra-articular CO is not without risk and should be planned and diagnosed early...

Tenosinovitis es la inflamación del tendón y vaina sinovial. Es más frecuente en manos y muñecas. Su etiología es infecciosa o inflamatoria. En pacientes con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico (LES) el compromiso periarticular y tendíneo es frecuente. Los corticoides (CO) intraarticulares son efectivos como adyuvante de terapia sistémica. Las complicaciones de su uso son infrecuentes. Se presenta el caso de paciente sexo femenino, 32 años, con LES e insuficiencia renal crónica secundaria a nefropatía lúpica, usuaria de CO orales. Por edema articular se le infiltra betametasona de depósito intraarticular en metacarpo-falángica (MCF). Evoluciona doce días después con Síndrome Compartimental (SC). Durante la fasciotomía se evidencian hallazgos compatibles con sinovitis química por cristales de betametasona. Existe escaso reporte en la literatura de SC en dedos de la mano. El diagnóstico es principalmente clínico. El uso común de CO intraarticulares no está exento de riesgos y deben ser previstos y diagnosticados precozmente...

Bilateral rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon. A case report.

Bilateral rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) is a rare entity and the few cases that have been reported were associated with an underlying systemic condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or following an injury. We present the case of a patient who was referred to us with a spontaneous rupture of the EPL tendon of the right wrist and that of the left side observed 2 months after tenosynovectomy. The patient had not any pathologic condition or evidence of trauma in both wrists. In the left side, he was operated on and a tenolysis and subcutaneous tendon transposition was performed. Despite this preventive surgery, the patient suffered from a tendon rupture. The possible causes of surgery failure are discussed.

Tophaceous gout: a case of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome

Gouty tenosynovitis may present as infection, tendon rupture, nerve compression and/or digital stiffness. We report a case of tophaceous gout which presented as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (AU)

[Symmetric, seronegative, remittent with edema synovitis. Presentation of a case]. / Sinovitis simétrica, seronegativa, remitente con edema. Presentacíon de un caso.

A 67 year old female patient from the capital with acute onset of a severe symmetrical synovitis affecting the flexor digitorum tendon sheaths, wrists and hand joints with pitting edema of the dorsum of both hands is described. She was seronegative for latex test and improved with low doses of prednisone. This syndrome described previously went into complete remission although stopping therapy.