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Case report
Reactive arthritis after COVID-19
  1. Bo Langhoff Hønge1,2,
  2. Marie-Louise From Hermansen1,3 and
  3. Merete Storgaard3
  1. 1Department of Internal Medicine, Randers Regional Hospital, Denmark, Randers, Denmark
  2. 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospita, Randers, Denmark
  3. 3Department of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
  1. Correspondence to Dr Bo Langhoff Hønge; bohonge{at}gmail.com

Abstract

A previously healthy 53-year-old man was hospitalised for 12 days due to COVID-19 with shortness of breath. A few days after discharge from hospital, the patient developed fever and severe pain in several joints in the lower extremities. The pain was so severe that the patient was unable to stand on his feet. Synovial fluid from the right-side knee contained a high number of polynuclear cells and a few mononuclear cells. Microscopy, culture and PCR tests for bacterial infection were all negative. Furthermore, the patient tested negative for rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27. Thus, the condition was compatible with reactive arthritis. The condition improved markedly after a few days’ treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and prednisolone.

  • COVID-19
  • immunology
  • rheumatology

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-241375

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors BLH, MLFH and MS were involved in planning, conducting, reporting, conception and design, analysis and interpretation of data. BLH drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer-reviewed.