Rheumatic syndromes associated with filariasis

Abstract EN

Patients: Twenty-two patients who presented with filariasis and arthritis were included in this study.

They all fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of parasitic rheumatism proposed by Doury (1981).

Patients were 12 females and 10 males, their age ranged from 25 to 65 years with a mean of 44.65 years.

The duration of filariasis ranged from 5 to 25 years with a mean of 9.2 years.

Methods: All patients were subjected to full clinical examination and study of the pattern of arthritis.

The following investigations were performed: urine and stool analysis, complete blood picture, ESR, rheumatoid factor, serum uric acid, anti-streptolysin-O titer, synovial fluid analysis and screening for filarial antibodies using ELIZA.

Results: All patients (22) had large joint involvement.

The commonest joint affected was the knee joint (72.7%), followed by the ankle joint (27.3%).

Involvement was mono articular in 12 patients and oligo articular (two or three) in 10 patients.

Joint effusion was present in 14 cases, and six patients had recurrent episodes.

ESR was elevated in 17 cases, eosinophilia in all cases, 16 patients showed filarial antibodies, and 16 patients had microfilaraemia.

Microfilaria were detected in the synovial fluid in one patient.

Conclusion: Consideration should be given to the possibility of parasitic associated arthritis, when the above develops in residents, travelers or migrants of endemic areas.

Immuno-compromised individual may be at special risk.