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Adult-Onset Still's Disease Presenting With Leukopenia and Pulmonary Infiltrates: A Mimicker of Infection and
1Internal Medicine, St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, USA.
Abstract:
Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder that often mimics infections, tickborne diseases, or malignancies, leading to diagnostic delays. We present a 26-year-old male with persistent fever, arthralgia, lymphadenopathy, and elevated inflammatory markers unresponsive to antibiotics. Extensive infectious and autoimmune workup was largely negative except for positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) and ribonucleoprotein (RNP). Development of a maculopapular rash with spiking fevers and elevated ferritin (1240 ng/mL) met Yamaguchi's criteria for AOSD. Initiation of corticosteroids resulted in the rapid resolution of fever. This case highlights that AOSD should remain a diagnostic consideration in fever of unknown origin, even with positive autoantibodies.
Insights
Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare condition that can mimic infections, delaying diagnosis. Early corticosteroid treatment rapidly resolved symptoms in a patient presenting with fever and elevated ferritin, confirming AOSD.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
- Systemic Inflammatory Disorders
Background:
- Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder.
- AOSD often presents with non-specific symptoms, mimicking infections, tickborne diseases, or malignancies, leading to diagnostic challenges and delays.
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