Monoarthritis of the ankle in diabetes mellitus without neuropathy: a report of three cases.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with several non articular rheumatic conditions and is a cause of Charcot's arthropathy. We report three cases of long-standing insulin-dependent diabetics who developed an inflammatory monoarthritis of the ankle. There was no evidence of a peripheral neuropathy or sepsis. They were all seronegative for rheumatoid factor. In two the synovitis persisted; in the third there was a gradual resolution. This type of inflammatory synovitis has not been previously described in diabetes. It developed after a mean duration of diabetes of 34.3 years (range 18-52 years). We suggest that it may be associated with microvascular changes in diabetes, possibly involving hypoxic reperfusion.
Hall
G M
GM
Department of Rheumatology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK.
Nasser
S M
SM
Scott
D L
DL
D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction