Rare coexistence of gouty and septic arthritis: a report of 14 cases

CER290
2009 Vol.27, N°6
PI 0902, PF 0906
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PMID: 20149303 [PubMed]

Received: 18/03/2009
Accepted : 08/05/2009
In Press: 02/04/2010
Published: 02/03/2010

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To analyse the characteristic features of patients with coexistence of gouty arthritis and pyarthrosis at our university hospital in southern Taiwan, an area with high prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout.
METHODS:
A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who had concomitant gouty and septic arthritis from July 1998 to June 2008. Clinical and laboratory data of these patients were analysed. Furthermore, a comparison was made with published cases in English literature.
RESULTS:
Fourteen cases with coexistence of gouty arthritis and pyarthrosis have been identified during the past 10 years. There were 13 male and 1 female, all of Han Chinese in ethnicity, with ages ranging from 45 to 85 and an average of 63.7 years. At disease presentation, there were 11 oligoarticular cases (78.6%), 2 monoarticular cases (14.3%) and 1 polyarticular case (7.1%). Ankle and knee joints were most commonly involved. Bacteriological analyses demonstrated gram-positive cocci in 12 cases, of these 10 were oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (71.4%). Multiple tophi deposition was noted in 13 patients (92.9%) and among them 11 patients (84.6%) had associated chronic kidney disease.
CONCLUSIONS:
Different clinical presentations and bacteriological characteristics have been identified in the present series. While the mechanisms responsible for such a coexistence remain to be elucidated, these cases underline the importance of thorough evaluation of the aspirated synovial fluid. Our report adds a novel insight into the understanding of the clinical and microbiological manifestations of such a rare concurrence of gouty and septic arthritis.