title: Acute inflammatory (non-purulent) arthritis concomitant with a developing breast abscess.
abstract: A 34 year old female presented 7 weeks post-partum with acute diffuse arthritic manifestations and pyrexia. Extensive investigations (grossly raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], normal serology and others) were performed to pursue a diagnosis. Subsequently a breast abscess was diagnosed. Surgical treatment of this led to almost immediate resolution of the joint complaints and return of ESR/CRP to normal levels. This was considered a hitherto unreported case of acute non-purulent inflammatory arthritis concomitant to an existing infection elsewhere in the body. The pathogenic mechanism is unclear but speculatively toxin-mediated.
authors.affiliation: South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Baildam
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*