[Edematous benign polyarthritis in elderly persons (RS3PE syndrome). Apropos of 11 personal cases]

Edematous benign polyarthritis of the elderly (syndrome of remitting seronegative synovitis with pitting edema) affects Caucasians aged over 60, predominantly males. The symptoms involve constant edema of the hands and often of the feet, with pain and muscular weakness. These symmetric edemas are accompanied by arthritis of the extremities and the large joints. The onset of the syndrome is acute, ranging from some days to a few weeks, characterized by inflammation but no rheumatoid factor. Treatment is similar to that of the classic form of rheumatoid arthritis. The evolution, however, is always favorable within a year, without subsequent sequelae. The etiology remains undetermined.