title: Lipid microspherule-associated acute monarticular arthritis.
abstract: We describe the fifth reported case of acute monarthritis associated with lipid microspherules. A 33-year-old obese man developed acute knee arthritis with a synovial fluid white blood cell count of 11,700/mm3 (97% polymorphonuclear leukocytes). The fluid contained numerous strongly positively birefringent intra- and extracellular spherules that measured 2-6 microns in diameter and had the appearance of Maltese crosses. No systemic lipid disorder or local trauma could account for the attack, which responded promptly to the administration of colchicine.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000473:pathology