Tuberc Respir Dis.  2011 Sep;71(3):221-224.

A Case of Poncet's Disease in a Patient with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Accompanying Erythema Nodosum

• Han N
• Lee SK
• Kim TJ
• Song YS
• Jung SH
• Yang KH
• Choi SJ
• Shin WH

Abstract

Poncet's disease is an aseptic polyarthritis developing in the presence of active Tuberculosis occurring elsewhere, and is not due to direct involvement of joints but to an immunological reaction to tuberculoprotein. We experienced a case of Poncet's disease accompanying erythema nodosum in a 55-year-old female patient with pulmonary tuberculosis. She had multiple tender erythematous nodules on both lower limbs for 3 months and a cough and sputum from one month ago. She felt severe pain in both knees and ankles with swelling one week before admission. Her chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan and positive sputum AFB stain results revealed that she had active pulmonary tuberculosis accompanying erythema nodosum and aseptic polyarthritis. Her arthritis and erythema nodosum were dramatically improved within four weeks after anti-tuberculosis therapy. We report a case of Poncet's disease in pulmonary tuberculosis accompanying erythema nodosum.

Keyword

Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Arthritis, Reactive; Erythema Nodosum

MeSH Terms

Animals
Ankle
Arthritis
Arthritis, Reactive
Cough
Erythema
Erythema Nodosum
Female
Humans
Joints
Knee
Lower Extremity
Middle Aged
Sputum
Thorax
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Figure

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  Figure 1 Symmetrical, tender, erythematous, and warm nodules are located on the shins.

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  Figure 2 The posteroanterior (PA) chest x-ray shows left upper lung infiltration.

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  Figure 3 Chest CT suggest active pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchiectasis on LUL. CT: computed tomography; LUL: left upper lobe.

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  Figure 4 The section shows lymphocytic infiltration into fibrous septal tissue by moderate degree. Foci of fat necrosis with foamy histiocytes (red arrow) are seen (A, H&E stain, ×100; B, H&E stain, ×400).

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