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An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Published on: June 6, 2025
Chronic graft-versus-host disease mimicking rapid progressive rheumatoid arthritis with atlantoaxial subluxation
Hui-Ting Lee1, Wei-Sheng Chen, Chung-Tei Chou
1Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Division of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, 201 Shih-Pai Road Section 2, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) may mimic clinical and serological features of various autoimmune diseases. We present a case of a 23-year-old man who developed vitiligo, symmetric polyarthritis, high titre rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies after allogenic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anaemia. He was treated with low dose oral steroids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and azathioprine and clinical improvement of polyarthritis were observed initially. However, atlantoaxial subluxation (C1-C2) and rapid progression of symmetrical joint space narrowing in knees and wrists developed within 1 year. cGVHD mimicking rheumatoid arthritis with unusual presentations was observed in this patient.
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