Peripheral Arthritis and Tenosynovitis in a Patient With Brucellosis

Abstract

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Musculoskeletal system involvement is common in patients with brucellosis. Herein we report a patient who presented with bilateral arthralgia in the ankles and diffuse swelling of the left hand in the follow-up. He had been diagnosed with brucellosis and improved well after a 10-week duration of antibiotic therapy. Rheumatic diseases may have many infectious mimickers. Brucellosis is one of those that should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Brucellosis as a Multisystem Disease

“…Peripheral skeleton involvement is less frequent than vertebral among patients with brucellosis. Arthralgia, enthesopathy, osteomyelitis, arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and tenosynovitis (Figures 2 and 3) [24] were all reported. Knee (Figures 4 and 5) [25], hip, and ankle joints are among the most common peripheral regions affected.…”