title: Chronic graft-versus-host disease mimicking rapid progressive rheumatoid arthritis with atlantoaxial subluxation.
abstract: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) may mimic clinical and serological features of various autoimmune diseases. We present a case of a 23-year-old man who developed vitiligo, symmetric polyarthritis, high titre rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies after allogenic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anaemia. He was treated with low dose oral steroids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and azathioprine and clinical improvement of polyarthritis were observed initially. However, atlantoaxial subluxation (C1-C2) and rapid progression of symmetrical joint space narrowing in knees and wrists developed within 1 year. cGVHD mimicking rheumatoid arthritis with unusual presentations was observed in this patient.
authors: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, 201 Shih-Pai Road Section 2, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
authors: Hui-Ting
authors: HT
authors: Lee
authors: Wei-Sheng
authors: WS
authors: Chen
authors: Chung-Tei
authors: CT
authors: Chou
authors: Ming-Han
authors: MH
authors: Chen
authors: Chang-Youh
authors: CY
authors: Tsai