Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis following allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Stem cell transplant has been utilized in the treatment of malignancies and rheumatic disease. Rheumatic disease may be transferred from the donor with active disease or may be developed in a recipient de novo as a late complication of SCT.


METHODS
We here report the rare case of a 26-year old male patient, who has been diagnosed with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy after unique circumstance. The patient suffered from intermittent inflammatory back pain and peripheral joint swelling for several years and did not find relief through multiple emergency room visits at different medical facilities. After a thorough history and physical exam, it was noted that our patient had developed signs of axial disease along with dactylitis and overall that he had been insidiously developing an undifferentiated spondyloarthopathy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observation supports the hypothesis that de novo rheumatic disease can develop after stem cell transplant for a variety of reasons. Thus, larger studies and awareness of this association are needed to delineate the exact underlying mechanism(s).
Karia
Vijay R
VR
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112-2822, USA. vrk900@yahoo.com
Cuchacovich
Raquel
R
Espinoza
Luis R
LR
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods