Arthritis in beta thalassaemia trait: clinical and pathological features.
A 33-year-old white female of English descent with beta thalassaemia trait developed painful recurring bilateral knee effusion at age 15 years. Trauma was denied. Synovial analyses revealed noninflammatory effusions with normal complement, no inclusions, and no crystals. Knee x-rays normal at ages 18 and 26, showed mild osteoarthritic changes at age 33. Laboratory tests for other known causes of arthritis were repeatedly normal or negative. Bone densitometry was below normal. Light microscopy of the synovial membrane showed no significant abnormalities and no iron deposition. Electron microscopic findings included multilamination of vascular basement membranes and large amounts of thin fibrils surrounding many connective tissue cells. Treatment with salicylates did not prevent recurrence of effusions, and quadriceps strengthening and joint rest were moderately successful in relieving pain. Intra-articular corticosteroids on 2 occasions were not helpful. Whether her knee arthritis is purely secondary to the para-articular bone thinning from the chronic marrow expansion remains to be determined.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Montecucco, C., Caporali, R., Rossi, S., Epis, O.
(1999). Rheumatoid arthritis in beta-thalassaemia trait. Rheumatology (Oxford)
38: 1021-1022
[Full Text]
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
