Enfermedad de Poncet: manifestación inusual de tuberculosis / Poncets disease: unusual manifestation of tuberculosis

Resumen LA enfermedad de Poncet es una poliartritis aséptica reactiva poco frecuente que ocurre durante cualquier etapa de una infección activa pulmonar o extrapulmonar por Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Existen apenas 200 casos descritos en la bibliografía y hasta el momento permanece como diagnóstico de exclusión sin patogenia bien definida. Suele responder rápida y satisfactoriamente al tratamiento antituberculoso sin dejar secuelas. Este artículo revisa la epidemiología, patogenia, manifestación clínica, diagnóstico, tratamiento y pronóstico de la enfermedad de Poncet.

Abstract Poncet's disease is a rarely reported aseptic reactive polyarthritis associated to active pulmonary or extrapulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are no more than 200 cases reported in the literature and still remains as a diagnosis of exclusion with unknown pathogenesis. It quickly and remarkably resolves with antituberculous drugs, has usually a good prognosis and does not turn into chronic arthritis. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis of Poncet's disease.

Poncet's disease: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: One of the rare presentations of active pulmonary or even extrapulmonary tuberculosis is polyarthropathy which is the involvement of multiple large and small joints in the body; a reactive constellation known as Poncet's disease. This may sometimes be the sole manifestation of the disease before more obvious features develop. The pain experienced during polyarthritis can be crippling thereby limiting the mobility and activities of patients. Polyarthritis as a symptom of active tuberculosis can be easily misinterpreted for more common causes of polyarthritis such as rheumatological diseases that present similarly. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 25-year-old Asian woman and a 45-year-old Asian man who presented with active tuberculosis where polyarthralgia was the first and only symptom for many months followed by pulmonary and pleural manifestations. Both patients showed dramatic improvement with anti-tuberculous therapy. The total duration of therapy was 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our observations, we propose that tuberculosis be included among the differentials for patients with unusual presentation of joint pains, especially in endemic regions and/or susceptible populations.

[Tuberculous rheumatism "Poncet's disease". Case report]. / Reumatismo tuberculoso "enfermedad de Poncet". Reporte de caso.

BACKGROUND: Deaths due to tuberculosis have reached 2.5 million cases per year worldwide. Poncet's disease is an infrequent form of tuberculosis characterised by a clinical picture of polyarthritis. CLINICAL CASE: A 24-year-old male presented with morning stiffness, arthralgias, bilateral symmetric arthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joints, wrists, knees, ankles, and shoulders, and adenomegalies at the cervical, submandibular, left supraclavicular, axillary and inguinal levels, without fever. Laboratory results were as follows: ESR 44mm/h, C-reactive protein 4.35, normal levels of complement C3 and C4, negative rheumatoid factor and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, positive antinuclear antibodies with fine speckled pattern (1:320) and cytoplasm (1:160) pattern and negative anti-Smith, -double-stranded DNA, Sjogren's syndrome-antigen A and Sjogren's syndrome-antigen B. Histological report of cervical node tissue revealed granulomatous lesions compatible with tuberculosis. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus were ruled out. Anti-tuberculosis agents were initiated that resolved the clinical picture. Diagnosis of Poncet's disease was confirmed. CONCLUSION: The differential diagnosis between tuberculosis and autoimmune inflammatory joint diseases is a clinical challenge.