Acute postoperative inflammatory polyarthritis associated with a lone IgM cardiolipin antibody

BMJ Case Rep. 2015 Mar 2:2015:bcr2014208218. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-208218.

Abstract

While the most recognised complication after joint surgery is septic arthritis, other forms of joint pathology may occur. We present a case of postoperative polyarthritis with high inflammatory markers, which responded to a course of prednisolone. The occurrence of high IgM cardiolipin antibodies that normalised with treatment suggests that this condition is a form of transient autoimmunity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis / drug therapy
  • Arthritis / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / diagnosis
  • Arthroscopy / adverse effects*
  • Cardiolipins / immunology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Male
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cardiolipins
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Prednisolone