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Delayed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in an elderly patient presenting with weakness and desolation.
- Source :
-
BMJ case reports [BMJ Case Rep] 2021 Feb 05; Vol. 14 (2). Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Feb 05. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- We describe the case of an 81-year-old man who presented with unspecific symptoms of desolation and general weakness, which led to a delayed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patient had not received any previous treatment as he had not been in contact with medical services for several years prior to hospital admission. This enabled advanced disease manifestations to develop, including peripheral neuropathy with distal paraparesis, lethargy and weight loss. These signs and symptoms were later recognised as extra-articular manifestations of RA and classical features of RA were less pronounced. Following extensive diagnostic testing ruling out other possible causes for the presenting symptoms, an anti-inflammatory therapy with oral glucocorticoids and methotrexate was started.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
- Subjects :
- Aged, 80 and over
Biomarkers blood
Delayed Diagnosis
Depression
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Imaging
Humans
Male
Muscle Weakness
Antirheumatic Agents therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid diagnosis
Arthritis, Rheumatoid drug therapy
Glucocorticoids therapeutic use
Methotrexate therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1757-790X
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMJ case reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33547118
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-237251