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Polyarthritis with local erythema


Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]

Diseases Clinical manifestations Para-clinical findings Gold standard Additional findings
Symptoms Physical examination
Lab Findings Imaging Histopathology
Joint Swelling Fever Weight loss Claudication Morning stiffness Local erythema Skin manifestation CBC ESR Synovial fluid Other X-ray CT scan Other
Polyarthritis Infectious arthritis Bacterial endocarditis[1] + + + – – +/- Janeway lesions, Osler nodes, Roth spots Normochromic-normocytic anemia ↑ ↑WBC, S. aureus in culture Hyperglobulinemia, Cryoglobulinemia Joint erosion and effusion – – Vegetation or intracardiac abscess demonstrating active endocarditis Echocardiography (TTE) Vertebral osteomyelitis
Postinfectious (reactive) arthritis Rheumatic fever[2] + + – – – +/- Erythema marginatum rheumaticum Leukocytosis ↑ Sterile inflammatory reaction with cells<20,000/μL Streptococcal antibody titer Cardiomegaly Valvular or pericardial calcification Echocardiographic changes in heart valves Edema, Fibrinoid necrosis, Mononuclear cell infiltrate Echocardiography Chorea, Carditis 
Other seronegative spondyloarthritides Psoriatic arthritis[3] + – – – – + Scaly erythematous plaques,

Guttate lesions, Lakes of pus,

Erythroderma

Normal ↑ High WBC count (5000-15,000/µL) with >50% of PMN leukocytes ↑RF, ANA, IgA Joint-space narrowing, Fluffy periostitis Pencil-in-cup deformity, Early signs of synovitis Sacroiliitic synovitis, Enthesitis in MRI Lack of intrasynovial Ig and RF, Greater propensity for fibrous ankylosis, osseous resorption, and heterotopic bone formation Clinical findings Onycholysis, Splinter hemorrhages
Inflammatory bowel disease[4] + + – – + +/- Pyoderma gangrenosum (ulcerative colitis), Erythema nodosum (Crohn disease) Iron deficiency anemia, Leukocytosis, Thrombocytosis ↑ Mild to moderate inflammatory fluid, PMN predominance ↑RF, Antiendomysial Ab, Antitransglutaminase Ab Bilateral sacroiliitis, Syndesmophytes and apophyseal joint involvement in spine – Early detection of spinal and sacroiliac lesions in MRI – Clinical findings and history Acute anterior uveitis
Crystal-induced arthritis[5] + +/- – – – + Joint erythema Leukocytosis ↑ Needle shaped urate crystals, WBC count > 2000/µL Urinary uric acid (>1100 mg in 24h) Punched-out erosions or lytic areas with overhanging edges  Complementary for recognizing erosions Tophi or edema in MRI Large pale pink acellular areas (urate crystals), surrounded by histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells Synovial fluid assay Conjunctival nodules
Systemic rheumatic illnesses Systemic lupus erythematosus[6] + – +/- – – + Malar rash, Photosensitivity, Discoid lupus Leukopenia, Lymphopenia, Anemia, Thrombocytopenia ↑ Cell count from < 25% PMNs (non-inflammatory effusions) to > 50% PMNs (inflammatory effusions) Creatine kinase, LFT, ANA, Anti-dsDNA, Anti-Sm, Lupus anticoagulant Periarticular osteopenia and soft-tissue swelling without erosions Interstitial lung disease, Pneumonitis, Pulmonary emboli, Alveolar hemorrhage Pericardial effusion, Pulmonary hypertension, Verrucous Libman-Sacks endocarditis in echocardiography Inflammatory infiltrates at the dermoepidermal junction and vacuolar change in the basal columnar cells Anti-dsDNA Rheumatoid arthritis, Serositis, Oral ulcers
Polymyositis/dermatomyositis[7] – – +/- – – + Heliotrope rash, Gottron papules, Poikiloderma Normocytic normochromic anemia ↑ Predominantly mononuclear cells and large macrophage-like cells Anti–Mi-2 antibodies, Anti–Jo-1 antibodies, Creatine kinase, ANA Marginal erosions and periarticular calcification – – Vacuolar changes of the columnar epithelium and lymphocytic infiltrates Muscle biopsy Dysphagia 
Still’s disease[8] – – +/- – +/- + Mild papules and nodules Anemia, Thrombocytosis ↑ High WBC count (5000-15,000/µL) with >50% of PMN leukocytes ANA, RF Soft tissue swelling,

Osteopenia,

Joint-space narrowing

Synovial inflammation Inflamed synovium in ultrasonography Inflammatory infiltration in synovium Clinical findings and synovial fluid analysis Ocular involvement
Polyarticular pain Soft tissue abnormalities + – – – – +/- Maculopapular rash Normal – Cell count < 25% PMNs (non-inflammatory) CRP, Ca Joint swelling Synovial edema and thickness Mild joint effusion in ultrasonography Mild inflammation Clinical findings Mucositis, Enthesitis

References

  1. ↑ Soor P, Sharma N, Rao C (2017). “Multifocal Septic Arthritis Secondary to Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Case Report”. J Orthop Case Rep. 7 (1): 65–68. doi:10.13107/jocr.2250-0685.692. PMC 5458702. PMID 28630844.
  2. ↑ Kumar RK, Tandon R (2013). “Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease: the last 50 years”. Indian J Med Res. 137 (4): 643–58. PMC 3724245. PMID 23703332.
  3. ↑ Sankowski AJ, Lebkowska UM, Cwikła J, Walecka I, Walecki J (2013). “Psoriatic arthritis”. Pol J Radiol. 78 (1): 7–17. doi:10.12659/PJR.883763. PMC 3596149. PMID 23493653.
  4. ↑ Orchard TR (2012). “Management of arthritis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease”. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 8 (5): 327–9. PMC 3424429. PMID 22933865.
  5. ↑ Reginato A, Paul H, Schumacher HR (September 1982). “Crystal-induced arthritis”. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 63 (9): 401–8. PMID 6287963.
  6. ↑ Manson JJ, Rahman A (2006). “Systemic lupus erythematosus”. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 1: 6. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-1-6. PMC 1459118. PMID 16722594.
  7. ↑ Briemberg HR, Amato AA (September 2003). “Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis”. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 5 (5): 349–356. PMID 12895397.
  8. ↑ Kadavath S, Efthimiou P (February 2015). “Adult-onset Still’s disease-pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and new treatment options”. Ann. Med. 47 (1): 6–14. doi:10.3109/07853890.2014.971052. PMID 25613167.

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