Synovial xanthomatosis: are there clues to mechanisms for this rare disease?
We report a 64-year-old man with arthritis and nodules to describe that this picture can be caused by normo-lipidemic xanthomas. Light and electron microscopy (EM) plus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies were performed for diagnosis and investigation. These showed features typical of xanthomas plus PCR and EM evidence of possible infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae as a pathogenetic mechanism deserving consideration. With such rare diseases, any clues to possible mechanisms seem important to record and thus to encourage future investigations. This uncommon cause of arthritis and nodules had been confused with rheumatoid arthritis by others in this case.
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. schumacr@mail.med.upenn.edu
H Ralph
HR
Schumacher
Wassim G
WG
Habre
Christopher
C
Friedrich
Marie
M
Sieck
Lan X
LX
Chen
Gilda M
GM
Clayburne
Joan M
JM
Von Feldt
D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000382:microbiology*; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology