Relapsing arthritis was described by Hans Rosenberg in 1944. Relapsing rheumatism affects men and women in roughly equal proportions and presents as episodes of arthritis, or inflammation of the soft tissues that surround the joints. The number of seizures generally reaches more than 2-3 per year, and the seizure occurs suddenly, usually in one joint, and the seizure lasts from hours to a few days.

Symptoms of relapsing rheumatism

The seizure occurs suddenly, usually in one joint, and the seizure lasts for hours to a few days, and is characterized by the following symptoms:

pain in the joint

Joint swelling.

Redness without a rise in body temperature.

Lumps under the skin along the tendons in the hands that look under a microscope resemble the lumps seen in patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis.

Causes and risk factors for relapsing rheumatism

Scientists have not yet found the direct cause that leads to relapsing rheumatism, as the cause may be the transmission of inflammatory causes to the membrane that covers the joint and causes its inflammation.

risk factors

Among the most important factors that cause inflammation

Medical family history.

Shock.

catch infection.

allergic reaction

Complications of relapsing rheumatism

Despite the severity of the attacks, the disease does not cause serious complications.

Diagnosis of relapsing rheumatism

The diagnosis is made as follows

1. Blood tests

During an attack we may notice a slight to moderate elevation of the ESR.

In the serum of half of the patients with relapsing arthritis, rheumatoid factor characteristic of classic rheumatoid arthritis was found in the serum, however, only in a fifth to a third of patients with relapsing arthritis, and the condition progresses to chronic rheumatoid arthritis within 5-10 years from the onset of the disease.

2. Taking a biopsy of the joint tissue

When a biopsy of the joint tissue is taken and examined, an infiltration of cells characteristic of acute inflammation, which are white blood cells, is detected.

3. Exclusion of other diseases

It is important to mention that despite the acute attacks, there is no permanent damage, and there is no restriction of the range of motion, nor even permanent deformities of the joints.

The joints appear intact on radiographs, and similar diseases must be excluded, such as

Gout disease.

Chondrocalcinosis.

Familial Mediterranean fever.

Treatment of relapsing rheumatism

Treatment for relapsing rheumatism includes giving the following

Anti-inflammatory drugs at the time of the attack.

permanent antimalarial drugs.

Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine).

Colchicine.

Sulfasalazine.

Chlorambucil.

Prevention of recurrent rheumatism

There are no proven ways to prevent relapsing rheumatism.