Therapieresistente Polyarthritis

Abstract

In elderly patients with polyarthritis, the differential diagnosis must include autoimmune diseases, crystal deposition diseases or an infection associated conditions. A clinical suspicion of gout should be confirmed by uric acid crystals detection in the synovial fluid or in the tophus. However, it is sometimes for different reasons not possible to proceed with an arthrocentesis. In such cases, non-invasive tests, as high-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound or DECT investigation could be useful to the clinician.