Chronic synovitis of the shoulder in familial Mediterranean fever: a disease of symptoms not signs.
Severe shoulder pain in a 41 year old Arab woman persisted for three months despite non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment. Isotope bone scanning and computed tomography showed inflammation of the glenohumeral joint and a large effusion, which needle aspiration had initially failed to reveal. A diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever was made on the basis of a strongly suggestive past personal and family history, sterility of the joint effusion, and a good response to colchicine.
Hughes
R A
RA
Department of Rheumatology, Charing Cross Hospital, London.
Scott
J T
JT
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology