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Case Reports
. 2017 Apr 6;11(1):93.
doi: 10.1186/s13256-017-1260-0.

Poncet's disease: two case reports

Fatima Adhi  1 , Rabia Hasan  1 , Mehreen Adhi  1 , Syed Ali Hamid  2 , Nousheen Iqbal  3 , Javaid A Khan  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Poncet's disease: two case reports

Fatima Adhi et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Background: One of the rare presentations of active pulmonary or even extrapulmonary tuberculosis is polyarthropathy which is the involvement of multiple large and small joints in the body; a reactive constellation known as Poncet's disease. This may sometimes be the sole manifestation of the disease before more obvious features develop. The pain experienced during polyarthritis can be crippling thereby limiting the mobility and activities of patients. Polyarthritis as a symptom of active tuberculosis can be easily misinterpreted for more common causes of polyarthritis such as rheumatological diseases that present similarly.

Case presentation: We describe the case of a 25-year-old Asian woman and a 45-year-old Asian man who presented with active tuberculosis where polyarthralgia was the first and only symptom for many months followed by pulmonary and pleural manifestations. Both patients showed dramatic improvement with anti-tuberculous therapy. The total duration of therapy was 6 months.

Conclusions: Based on our observations, we propose that tuberculosis be included among the differentials for patients with unusual presentation of joint pains, especially in endemic regions and/or susceptible populations.

Keywords: Poncet’s disease; Tuberculosis; Tuberculous rheumatism; polyarthritis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Chest X-ray of the patient showing patchy perihilar infiltrates. b Purified protein derivate skin test showing induration of 22 mm, 72 hours after intradermal injection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Chest X-ray and b computed tomography scan of the chest showing bilateral pleural effusions, more significant on the left side
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Chest X-ray and b computed tomography scan of the chest showing multiple fine nodularities bilaterally in all lung fields
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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