[Protracted rheumatologic manifestations in travelers].

Protracted rheumatological manifestations especially arthralgia and or polyarthritis may occur as a consequence of a wide range of pathogens including viral, bacterial and parasites. Few pathogenetic mechanisms leading to these clinical presentations have been suggested including a direct invasion of the synovial cells by the pathogens, immune complex formation, and others. The natural history of infectious arthritis/arthralgia is altogether benign, with full recovery and without sequelae, albeit sometimes very long. Diagnosis of infections-related arthralgia/arthritis is important since these diseases have a better prognosis, and can relieve anxiety among patients who are afraid of developing a chronic rheumatic disease. Since many patients will seek medical advice with these chronic complaints a long time after travel, physicians should be aware of the possible association between these complaints and remote travel. Thus, travel history should be mandatory, even in a rheumatologic setting.

Prevention of strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome: a rheumatological point of view.

BACKGROUND: Strongyloides stercoralis (S.stercoralis) is a parasite that infects humans and in conditions of immunodeficiency may disseminate, causing the potentially fatal strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome (SHS). The aim of this review was to investigate the literature evidence on the prophylaxis of SHS in immunosuppressed patients with rheumatological disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The MEDLINE database (from 1966 to 2008) was searched using the following terms: "strongyloidiasis", "disseminated strongyloidiasis", "Strongyloides stercoralis", "Strongyloides stercoralis dissemination", "strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome", "treatment", "prophylaxis", "prevention", "immunocompromised", "immunodepression", "immunosuppressed", "immunosuppression", "corticosteroids", "glucocorticoids", "lupus erythematosus", "rheumatoid arthritis", "rheumatic diseases". A search of the therapeutic studies using the same set of terms was carried out. RESULTS: No study on the prophylaxis of SHS restricted to rheumatic immunosuppressed patients was identified. However, two articles have been published on the prophylaxis of strongyloidiasis in other immunosuppressed patients. Additionally, 13 studies dealing with different therapeutical options for strongyloidiasis were identified and presented. CONCLUSIONS: Since there is no evidence on the prophylaxis of SHS in immunosuppressed rheumatic patients, the suggested regimen for that prophylaxis may rely on the results obtained from therapeutical studies. Ivermectin has the best safety profile, lower cost and best efficacy and should be the drug of choice for the prophylaxis of SHS in such patients. Although a definitive prophylactic regimen has not been defined, the option for 200 microg/kg/day for 2 days, repeated within 2 weeks, seems to be a reasonable approach. Such regimen should be repeated every 6 months in case of persisting immunosuppression in permanent residents of endemic areas.

Rheumatic syndromes associated with parasites.

A variety of musculoskeletal syndromes has been described in association with numerous parasitic infestations. Arthritis, enthesitis, myositis and vasculitis have been described in infected individuals resident in, or visitors to, endemic areas. The diagnosis of parasitic rheumatism is supported by poor response to anti-inflammatory drugs and improvement following antiparasitic treatment.

[Rheumatologic aspects of toxocariasis (visceral Larva migrans). Apropos of 2 cases]. / Les formes rhumatologiques de la toxocarose (Larva Migrans viscérale). A propos de 2 cas.

Visceral Larva migrans is a human infection by the larvae of dog ascarids or, more rarely, ascarids of other animal species. It is endemic in France. Two cases which respectively manifested as acute oligoarthritis and inflammatory myalgia with increased muscle enzyme levels are reported. Manifestations of the minor forms of this infestation are reviewed.

[Anisakiasis as a cause of acute appendicitis and rheumatologic picture: the first case in medical literature]. / Anisakiasis como causa de apendicitis aguda y cuadro reumatológico: primer caso en la literatura médica.

We report a case of acute abdomen due to appendicular lumen occlusion by anisakis larvae. This is the first case of human anisakiasis known in Spain, and the first case of acute appendicitis, in the medical World literature, produced by this nemathode. The association of myalgias and arthralgias stands out, being in this aspect the second case found the in medical litterature.

Parasitic rheumatism: rheumatic manifestations associated with calcified guinea worm.

We prospectively studied 20 Saudi and Yamani patients with calcified guinea worm who presented with different rheumatic manifestations. Localized myalgia (55%), chronic monoarthralgia (35%) and chronic synovitis of the knee (10%) were the main presentations. Two cases with synovial fluid eosinophilia were seen. In spite of the absence of active infestation, the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings suggested the possibility of a causal relationship. The condition should be considered among other causes of parasitic rheumatism particularly in endemic areas.

Parasitic rheumatism presenting as rheumatoid arthritis.

A symmetrical polyarthritis with low titer positive rheumatoid factor occurred in a young man who also complained of chronic diarrhea after returning from Vietnam. Endolimax nana grew on stool culture. Both the patient's diarrhea and arthritis responded effectively to therapy with metronidazole. The diagnosis of parasitic rheumatism was made in retrospect. Diagnostic consideration should be given to this entity in patients with unusual arthropathies, particularly if they have stayed in an endemic parasitic country and have gastrointestinal symptoms.