PARASITIC ARTHRITIS AND PARASITIC RHEUMAT ISM

Authors
Citation
P. Doury, PARASITIC ARTHRITIS AND PARASITIC RHEUMAT ISM, La Semaine des hopitaux de Paris, 70(17-18), 1994, pp. 522-528
Citations number
NO
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, General & Internal
ISSN journal
00371777
Volume
70
Issue
17-18
Year of publication
1994
Pages
522 - 528
Database
ISI
SICI code
0037-1777(1994)70:17-18<522:PAAPRI>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
Parasitic arthritis is a rare, although probably underdiagnosed, condi tion. A wide variety of parasites can cause arthritis. The parasites c an invade the joint, either from adjacent bony or soft tissue structur es or via the bloodstream. Similar to other infectious agents, parasit es can also cause reactive arthritis (parasitic rheumatism). Clinical features vary widely. The clinical presentation is not specific to a g iven parasite but is influenced by host-related factors, including gen etic factors. Diagnosis rests on precise criteria, of which the most i mportant is the inefficacy of drugs usually given in rheumatic disease s, especially nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, contrasting with th e dramatic efficacy of specific anti-parasite agents. The pathogenesis of parasitic rheumatism remains obscure. It is important that physici ans be familiar with parasitic rheumatism, since this inflammatory dis ease resolves promptly and completely under appropriate treatment. In contrast, failure to establish the diagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatments, in particular to systemic corticosteroid therapy whose ef fects can be devastating in patients with strongyloidiasis.