title: Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis in children: is it really a different entity from rheumatic fever?
abstract: Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA) is an acute, nonsuppurative arthritis following documented streptococcal infections. Although most authors accepted it as a different entity, the differences from acute rheumatic fever (ARF) are not clear. To document and compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics of PSRA and ARF, 24 patients with PSRA and 20 with ARF were enrolled in the study. The latency period from upper respiratory tract infection was shorter in patients with PSRA ( P<0.01). However, 25% of the patients with ARF had also short (<10 days) latency periods. Although symmetric and nonmigratory arthritis were more frequent in patients with PSRA, there was no significant difference for the distribution of mono-, oligo-, and polyarticular disease between PSRA and ARF patients. The frequency of small joint and hip involvement was also similar between the patient groups. Unresponsiveness of articular symptoms to salicylate therapy within 72 h was more frequent in patients with PSRA (P<0.001). However, in a substantial part of the patients with ARF (nine patients, 45%), joint symptoms also had no response during the first 72 h. Since there is a considerable overlap of symptoms, signs, and laboratory features of PSRA and ARF, a line between these two entities could not be easily drawn. We conclude that these two conditions are actually different presentations of the same disease.
authors.affiliation: Defne sitesi 8. blok, No: 37, 06530 Umitkoy, Ankara, Turkey. tutor@dialup.ankara.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tutar
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ucar
authors.forename: Gulendam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocak
authors.forename: Ayten
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imamoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D012459:Salicylates