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Mutilans arthropathy in systemic lupus erythematosus
E Martínez-Cordero1, J Lopez Zepeda, L Andrade-Ortega
1Departamento de Inmunología y Reumatología, Hospital 20 de Noviembre, México.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
|July 1, 1989
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus can cause rare, aggressive joint damage, including mutilans changes in DIP joints. This case highlights the potential for severe, erosive arthropathy in SLE patients over time.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Arthropathy is a common feature of SLE, typically presenting as non-erosive arthritis.
- Resorptive arthropathy, characterized by aggressive joint destruction, is an uncommon manifestation of SLE.
Observation:
- A 37-year-old female patient with SLE presented with initial mild articular symptoms.
- Over an 8-year period, the patient developed severe mutilans changes in the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints.
- Other potential causes of erosive arthropathy were systematically excluded.
Findings:
- This case demonstrates a rare but severe presentation of SLE-associated resorptive arthropathy.
- The development of mutilans arthropathy in DIP joints highlights the potential for aggressive joint abnormalities in SLE.
- The findings underscore the importance of long-term monitoring for evolving articular manifestations in SLE.
Implications:
- Recognizing this rare association is crucial for timely diagnosis and management of aggressive joint disease in SLE.
- Understanding the spectrum of SLE-related arthropathy can guide treatment strategies to prevent joint destruction.
- This case contributes to the literature on unusual musculoskeletal complications of systemic lupus erythematosus.