Infectious arthritis in primary disorders of immunoglobulin synthesis

Disorders of immunoglobulin synthesis are of great interest to rheumatologists. At the diagnostic level, such disorders not uncommonly mimic commoner rheumatic diseases, so it is important that the diagnostic possibility of immunodeficiency be kept in mind. Infections often complicate immunodeficiency and may present in an atypical manner. From the theoretical standpoint, the interactions between infectious agents and patients with impaired immunity suggest ways in which the same or similar agents could be responsible for arthritis of unknown etiology. Furthermore, many immunodeficiency disorders predispose to autoimmunity; establishing the mechanism of this association may offer good insights into the factors that trigger autoimmune disorders in patients with seemingly normal immune competence.