Related Experiment Videos

Concurrent reactive arthritis and myelitis - a case report

Mukul P Agarwal1, Subhash Giri, Vishal Sharma

  • 1Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India. mukulpagarwal@gmail.com

International Archives of Medicine
|June 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Reactive arthritis, a post-infectious illness, can affect multiple systems. This case highlights a rare instance of myelitis (spinal cord inflammation) occurring alongside reactive arthritis.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Reactive arthritis is a multisystem inflammatory condition typically following gastrointestinal or genitourinary infections.
  • Musculoskeletal symptoms are common, but extra-articular manifestations can affect skin, eyes, and urogenital systems.
  • Central nervous system involvement is infrequent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of myelitis associated with reactive arthritis.
  • To increase awareness of potential neurological complications in reactive arthritis.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 32-year-old male patient.
  • Clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment are described.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with myelitis, a rare manifestation of reactive arthritis.
  • The diagnosis was established based on clinical findings and exclusion of other causes.

Conclusions:

  • Reactive arthritis can present with diverse and uncommon manifestations, including central nervous system involvement like myelitis.
  • Early recognition and management of neurological complications are crucial for patient outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The symptoms vary widely, encompassing asymptomatic presentations to severe, acute manifestations.Clinical PresentationAsymptomatic cases: In some instances, myocarditis may be asymptomatic, with the infection resolving without intervention. These cases often go undetected unless discovered incidentally through diagnostic imaging or tests conducted for other reasons.General Early Symptoms: Early symptoms of myocarditis are non-specific and can...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
Myocarditis III: Medical Management01:14

Myocarditis III: Medical Management

Myocarditis: Comprehensive Medical ManagementMyocarditis, the heart muscle inflammation, requires a comprehensive medical management strategy that addresses the underlying cause, provides supportive care, manages symptoms, and reduces cardiac workload.Infections and Autoimmune CausesAdminister appropriate antimicrobial therapy when an infectious agent causes myocarditis. For instance, penicillin treats infections caused by Group A Streptococcus. In cases where autoimmune processes are...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...