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Zorluk: OrtaRheumatology and Immunology

An otherwise healthy 2626-year-old male is evaluated in the outpatient clinic due to a 44-day history of a swollen, painful, and warm right knee. He also reports recent onset of left heel pain that worsens with walking. For the past week, he has experienced bilateral eye redness and a "gritty" sensation. Three weeks prior to this visit, the patient had a self-limited episode of fever, abdominal cramps, and watery diarrhea that resolved after a few days. His current temperature is 37.4∘C37.4^\circ\text{C} (99.3∘F99.3^\circ\text{F}), blood pressure is 122/78122/78 mmHg, and pulse is 8686/min. Physical examination shows a large effusion in the right knee with restricted range of motion secondary to pain. There is marked tenderness at the insertion of the left Achilles tendon. Bilateral conjunctival injection is noted without purulent discharge. Arthrocentesis of the right knee yields 4040 mL of cloudy yellow fluid. Synovial fluid analysis reveals a leukocyte count of 35,000/mm335,000/\text{mm}^3 with 80%80\% neutrophils. Gram stain shows no organisms, and polarized light microscopy demonstrates no crystals. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

  1. Prescription of oral naproxenCevap
  2. B
    Start intravenous ceftriaxone and vancomycin therapy
  3. C
    Prescription of a 7-day course of oral ciprofloxacin
  4. D
    Assessment of serum HLA-B27 status
  5. E
    Performance of an intra-articular glucocorticoid injection

Cevap

Prescription of oral naproxen
This patient's presentation of asymmetric oligoarthritis, enthesitis (Achilles tendon tenderness), and conjunctivitis shortly after a diarrheal illness is highly characteristic of reactive arthritis. It is a seronegative spondyloarthropathy that typically occurs 11 to 44 weeks after a gastrointestinal (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter) or genitourinary (e.g., Chlamydia trachomatis) infection. The joint aspirate shows an inflammatory pattern (WBC between 2,0002,000 and 50,000/mm350,000/\text{mm}^3) with a negative Gram stain, typical of this sterile, immune-mediated condition. The cornerstone of initial therapy for the joint symptoms is a high-dose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as naproxen, ibuprofen, or indomethacin.

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1
Identify the clinical syndrome based on the patient's history and physical findings.
The patient presents with an acute asymmetric oligoarthritis, enthesitis (Achilles tendon tenderness), and conjunctivitis following a recent diarrheal illness.
Recognizing the classic triad of symptoms following an enteric infection points strongly to reactive arthritis (formerly Reiter syndrome).
2
Evaluate the synovial fluid analysis results.
The fluid is inflammatory (leukocyte count of 35,000/mm³) but non-purulent (negative Gram stain and no crystals).
This confirms an inflammatory arthritis rather than a crystal-induced or grossly purulent bacterial septic arthritis, supporting the diagnosis of a seronegative spondyloarthropathy.
3
Determine the initial step in management for this condition.
The most appropriate next step is to initiate systemic anti-inflammatory treatment with an NSAID.
NSAIDs are the recognized first-line therapy for the acute joint symptoms of reactive arthritis.

Anahtar Kavram

Reactive arthritis is a seronegative spondyloarthropathy characterized by the triad of arthritis, conjunctivitis, and urethritis/enthesitis following a gastrointestinal or genitourinary infection; initial management of the arthritis is with high-dose NSAIDs.
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