[Adult Still's disease (author's transl)]

The study of 36 published cases of adult Still's disease shows the following features: the onset takes place usually during the third decade of life, most often as a polyarthralgia characterized by sometimes starting fever, evanescent rash, neutrophil leukocytosis, negativity of the serological tests for rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus; lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly are frequent but not constant; serous cavities, particularly pericardium, are rather frequently involved; evolution is characterized by a succession of relapses and remissions, the far prognosis being rather good (1/3 of cures, 1/3 of mild articular relapses, 1/3 of articular sequelae, involving chiefly neck and hips); corticosteroids and heavy doses of aspirin seem to give the best therapeutic results, the usefulness of a maintenance treatment is debatable.