Vol.22 No.6

Case Report

Osteoarticular tuberculosis mimicking rheumatoid arthritis

Authors

Ong Ping Seung1 , Wahinuddin Sulaiman1

  • Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Jalan Hospital, 30990, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Received:

26 October 2011

Accepted:

19 January 2012

Published online:

8 March 2012

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Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global burden despite extensive efforts to control it. TB arthritis commonly manifest as monoarthritis of weight-bearing joints. We report a rare presentation of osteoarticular TB involving multiple small joints of the hands, which mimicked rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Magnetic resonance imaging showed tenosynovitis. The patient was initially treated for seronegative RA but failed to respond. Subsequently, synovial biopsy led to the diagnosis. Antituberculosis treatment was given for 1 year.

Key words

Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis arthritis - Osteoarticular tuberculosis - Rheumatoid arthritis - Synovial biopsy