TUBERCULAR ARTHRITIS

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  1.  Tuberculous arthritis accounts for ~1% of all cases of tuberculosis and 10% of extrapulmonary cases. 
  2.   most common presentation is chronic granulomatous monarthritis.
  3.  An unusual syndrome, Poncet’s disease, is a reactive symmetric form of polyarthritis that affects persons with visceral or disseminated tuberculosis. No mycobacteria are found in the joints, and symptoms resolve with antituberculous therapy.
  4.  Unlike tuberculous osteomyelitis  which typically involves the thoracic and lumbar spine (50% of cases), tuberculous arthritis primarily involves the large weight-bearing joints, in particular the hips, knees, and ankles, and only occasionally involves smaller non-weight-bearing joints. 
  5. Progressive monarticular swelling and pain develop over months or years, and systemic symptoms are seen in only half of all cases. 
  6. Tuberculous arthritis occurs as part of a disseminated primary infection or through late reactivation, often in persons with HIV infection or other immunocompromised hosts. 
  7. Coexistent active pulmonary tuberculosis is unusual. 
  8. Aspiration of the involved joint yields fluid with an average cell count of 20,000/μL, with ~50% neutrophils.
  9.  Acid-fast staining of the fluid yields positive results in fewer than one-third of cases,
  10.  and cultures are positive in 80%. 
  11. Culture of synovial tissue taken at biopsy is positive in ~90% of cases and shows granulomatous inflammation in most. 
  12. NAA methods can shorten the time to diagnosis to 1 or 2 days.
  13.  Radiographs reveal peripheral erosions at the points of synovial attachment, periarticular osteopenia, and eventually jointspace narrowing. 
  14. Therapy for tuberculous arthritis is the same as that for tuberculous pulmonary disease, requiring the administration of multiple agents for 6–9 months. 
  15. Therapy is more prolonged in immunosuppressed individuals such as those infected with HIV. 
  16. Various atypical mycobacteria found in water and soil may cause chronic indolent arthritis. Such disease results from trauma and direct inoculation associated with farming, gardening, or aquatic activities. Smaller joints, such as the digits, wrists, and knees, are usually involved. Involvement of tendon sheaths and bursae is typical. The mycobacterial species involved include Mycobacterium marinum ,  M. avium-intracellulare ,  M. terrae , M. kansasii ,  M. fortuitum , and  M. chelonae .
  17.  In persons who have HIV infection or are receiving immunosuppressive therapy, hematogenous spread to the joints has been reported for  M. kansasii , M. avium-intracellulare , and  M. haemophilum . Diagnosis usually requires biopsy and culture, and therapy is based on antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.