[Adult onset Still's disease: review of 26 cases].
OBJECTIVE
We intended to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and evolution of 26 patients with adult onset Still's disease.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study (1984-2004). The clinical records of patients with adult onset Still's disease were reviewed.


RESULTS
Twenty six patients were included. Most frequent clinical characteristics were: fever (100%), arthritis (81%), rash (92%) sore throat (92%) and lymphadenopathy (42%). Aspirin controlled the disease in 27% of patients, prednisone was needed in 70% and methotrexate was added in 50% cases. A monocyclic course was seen in 54% and polycyclic in 46% patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical characteristics were similar to previous series. A febrile polyarthritis was the most frequent presentation form. A polycyclic course was found in 58% of cases and it seems to be associated with poor prognosis and need for aggressive treatment.
Sección de Reumatología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
Elena
E
Riera Alonso
Alejandro
A
Olivé Marqués
Meritxell
M
Sallés Lizarzaburu
Susana
S
Holgado Pérez
Elisabet
E
García Casares
Xavier
X
Tena Marsà
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016706:Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate