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Arthritis associated with ventriculoatrial shunt
The Journal of Rheumatology
|June 1, 1986
Insights
A child with hydrocephalus experienced recurrent arthritis due to an infected ventriculoatrial shunt. This rare complication highlights arthritis as a potential consequence of immune complex formation in shunt infections.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Rheumatology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Ventriculoatrial shunts are used to treat hydrocephalus.
- Infected shunts can lead to immune complex-mediated diseases like glomerulonephritis.
- Arthritis is a rarely described complication of infected shunts.
Observation:
- A pediatric patient with hydrocephalus presented with acute, recurrent arthritis.
- The arthritis persisted for 8 months prior to the development of nephritis.
- The patient had an infected ventriculoatrial shunt.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates arthritis as an additional manifestation of immune complex formation secondary to an infected ventriculoatrial shunt.
- This presentation is uncommon, with glomerulonephritis being the more frequently reported immune complication.
- The findings suggest a broader spectrum of immune-mediated complications from infected shunts.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider arthritis in the differential diagnosis of recurrent joint pain in patients with infected ventriculoatrial shunts.
- Early recognition and management of shunt infections may prevent severe complications like nephritis and arthritis.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms linking shunt infections to arthritis.
Abstract:
A hydrocephalic patient with acute recurrent arthritis as a complication of infected ventriculoatrial shunt is presented. The association of hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis with infected shunt has been well documented, but arthritis as an additional consequence of the immune complex formation has rarely been described. The child reported here had recurrent bouts of arthritis for 8 months before he developed overt nephritis.