A case of Poncet's disease (tuberculous rheumatism)

Rheumatol Int. 2009 Jul;29(9):1097-9. doi: 10.1007/s00296-008-0795-1. Epub 2008 Dec 3.

Abstract

We describe a 37-year-old woman with recurrent polyarthritis, and recurrent erythema nodosum on the flexible side of her left forearm. On an X-ray of the chest, infiltration of the right upper lobe was observed. Transcription-reverse transcription concerted reaction in sputum samples revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Resolution of the polyarthritis with anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs occurred in 3 days. We diagnosed her with Poncet's disease (PD). PD is considered to be a reactive arthritis, which is a different entity from tuberculous arthritis. Although PD is a rare disease, we should be aware of it as one of the differential diagnoses, even in patients without typical symptoms of TB.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Reactive / diagnosis*
  • Arthritis, Reactive / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / diagnosis
  • Asian People
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Erythema Nodosum / diagnosis
  • Erythema Nodosum / microbiology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Radiography
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Cyclosporine
  • Prednisolone