SPOROTRICHOSIS PRESENTING AS ARTHRITIS AND SUBCUTANEOUS NODULES

Arthritis is a rare manifestation of systemic sporotrichosis. A patien t who had sporotrichal arthritis of both wrists and elbows is describe d. Predisposing factors included alcoholism, rose gardening, and antec edent trauma. The onset of the arthritis was insidious, and the diagno sis was made 2 1/2 years after his first symptoms were noted. Treatmen t with surgical debridement and a 23-week course of ketoconazole was u nsuccessful. A review of the literature suggests that some combination of intravenous or intraarticular amphotericin B and potassium iodide, ketoconazole, or surgery is necessary for effective treatment.