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Case Reports
. 2021 Mar 2;14(3):e241375.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-241375.

Reactive arthritis after COVID-19

Bo Langhoff Hønge  1 , Marie-Louise From Hermansen  2 , Merete Storgaard  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Reactive arthritis after COVID-19

Bo Langhoff Hønge et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

A previously healthy 53-year-old man was hospitalised for 12 days due to COVID-19 with shortness of breath. A few days after discharge from hospital, the patient developed fever and severe pain in several joints in the lower extremities. The pain was so severe that the patient was unable to stand on his feet. Synovial fluid from the right-side knee contained a high number of polynuclear cells and a few mononuclear cells. Microscopy, culture and PCR tests for bacterial infection were all negative. Furthermore, the patient tested negative for rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27. Thus, the condition was compatible with reactive arthritis. The condition improved markedly after a few days' treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and prednisolone.

Keywords: COVID-19; immunology; rheumatology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A, B) The right knee was markedly swollen.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Days of illness and corresponding admissions, C reactive protein and treatment given. NSAID, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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