Adult-Onset Still's Disease: Still a Serious Health Problem (a Case Report and Literature Review)

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Adult-onset Still's Disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory condition.
• Diagnosis of AOSD is challenging due to the absence of definitive diagnostic markers and is often a diagnosis of exclusion.

Observation:

• A 53-year-old female presented with fever, arthralgia, and abdominal pain, with initial labs showing elevated AST/ALT and normal leukocytes with bandemia.
• Extensive workup was performed to rule out other potential diagnoses.
• The patient was diagnosed with AOSD based on the Yamaguchi criteria.

Findings:

• Markedly elevated serum ferritin levels were observed, a common but non-specific finding in AOSD.
• The diagnostic process highlighted the complexity of AOSD identification.

Implications:

• This case underscores the critical role of thorough patient history and physical examination in the early diagnosis of AOSD.
• Timely diagnosis is crucial for preventing complications and enhancing patient prognosis.
• Highlights the utility of Yamaguchi criteria in diagnosing AOSD.