ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the clinical features and outcome of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome,and enhance the understanding of it.Methods Fourteen cases of RS3PE syndrome treated in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology were analyzed retrospec-tively,including the clinical characteristics,laboratory data.Data were presented as -x±s.Results Fourteen patients(nine man,five women) with RS3PE were enrolled.Their age was (68±9) (range:52-78)years.The main clinical features were acute onset symmetrical edema in both hands and feet and polyarthritis.Polyarthritis were involved in hand joints in 14 patients,wrists in 13 patients,knees in 10 patients,ankles in 9 patients,and shoulders in 8.In laboratory examinations,the average value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate was (68±26) mm/l h and C-reactive protein was (49±41) mg/L.Mild anemia of normocytic-normochromic type and mild low level of serum albumin were frequent findings.Antinuclear antibody was present only in one patient at low titer (1∶20).Rheumatoid factor and other auto antibodies were all negative in patients.Before corticosteroid treatment,the MRI test was performed in 8 patients and revealed prominent synovitis and articular effusion.Two cases had bone erosions on MRI; five patients were fuond to have malignant tumors,three of them initially presented with RS3PE.Polyarthritis and edema were relieved after treated with low dose corticosteroids and DMARDs drugs.But those patients with cancer were easily to recurr.Conclusion RS3PE syndrome is relatively uncommon.It occurs predominantly in elderly men and is characterized by rapid-onset symmetrical polyarthritis,presence of pitting edema of both hands and feet.Erosive changes can be seen on MRI.Patients usually have dramatic response to low dose corticosteroids and DMARDs drugs.Patients should be closely followed as RS3PE is closely related to cancer.