1) To analyze the clinical features and outcome of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and pyarthrosis seen in a rheumatology department during a 9-year period; 2) To review the available literature about this association in the last decade.
From the database of our department, we collected all hospitalized cases of infectious arthritis in native joints between January 1990 and December 1998. In 10 cases (27%), pyarthrosis occurred in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A detailed analysis of each patient was performed. The literature was reviewed by using MEDLINE from 1990 to 1999.
The mean age of patients was 63.2 years; six were female. Most patients had long-standing disease and poor functional class, and all received glucocorticoid treatment. Mean diagnostic delay was 7.3 days. Causative organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (4 cases), gram-negative bacilli (3 cases), anaerobic bacteria (2 cases), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 1). Two patients died. In all but two patients who survived, joint function worsened.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a relevant host-related risk factor for septic arthritis. Pyarthrosis in these patients is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality.