Palindromic Rheumatism - Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment

Last Updated on November 20, 2019

Palindromic rheumatism is recurrent arthritis characterized by episodes of painful swelling of one [usually] or more joints for hours to days often without any obvious triggers or warning symptoms. Any joint(s) may be affected, but finger joints, wrists, and knees are most commonly affected

Between episodes, people with palindromic rheumatism have no symptoms and the time between episodes may last from days to months.

A significant number of patients with palindromic rheumatism develop the chronic rheumatic disease, especially rheumatoid arthritis but it is controversial whether it is a disease entity in itself or just precursor of rheumatoid arthritis. Other people may develop lupus and/or other systemic disorders which include systemic lupus erythema tosus, spondyloarthropathy, Wegener’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, systemic sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome, Behçet’s disease, and polymyalgia rheumatica, among others.

Recently association with serum anticitrullinated peptide/protein antibodies or anti-CCP antibodies or ACPA has been shown to be more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Although rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated peptide/protein antibodies positivity are predictors of progression to rheumatoid arthritis in palindromic rheumatism in PR, a significant number of patients with these autoantibodies do not develop rheumatoid arthritis.

The term ‘palindromic’ derives from the Greek, ‘palin dromein’, which means ‘returning, recurring’,

It was originally described by Hench and Rosenberg in 1944, characterized by multiple, recurrent, painful attacks of inflammation of the joints and adjacent tissues.

Due to its rarity, it has been scarcely reported in the literature.

Recently, it has been suggested that this condition is much more common than previously thought. Some authors suggest that 10–15% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis begin with an episode of palindromic rheumatism.

Familial cases have also been described.

Remission of attacks during pregnancy and their reactivation 2–3 months later has also been reported.

Comparative view of Palindromic Rheumatism as compared to normal — Comparative view of Palindromic Rheumatism as compared to the normal side, Image Credit:palindromicrheumatism.org

Causative Factors

The cause of Palindromic rheumatism is not known yet.

Allergy and deficit of C1 esterase inhibitor or complement activation has been suggested but no evidence has been found till now.

There are no established known triggers.

Stress, excitement, vigorous exercise, cold and psychological factors like anxiety have been suggested as possible triggers but again, no evidence has been found.

In diet, foods that may trigger attacks have been suggested. These are s cheese, fish, canned vegetables like corn and peas and eggs, strawberries, grape fruit, mint, and foods containing nitrate, have been suggested without lack of evidence.

In nutshell, there is no proven cause or triggers for palindromic rheumatism.

Clinical Presentation

The condition is characterized by multiple, sudden, irregularlyrecurring attacks of pain, swelling and/or erythema that affect the joints and adjacent structures. Fever and constitutional symptoms are usually absent.

Attacks begin abruptly. The pain is usually mild but could be sometimes severe and disabling.

Attacks may last from a few hours to a week but usually last 24–72 hours. The frequency may vary between monthly and daily.

Constitutional symptoms and fever are rare.

The most fundamental feature is the swelling and diagnosis should be there is only pain and no swelling.

Palindromic rheumatism may affect almost any joint. But there is a predilection for joints of hands. The most affected joints are the metacarpophalangeal joints, the proximal interphalangeal joints, the wrists, knees, shoulders, feet, and ankles in decreasing order of frequency.

Usually, a single joint is affected, rarely two or more. Periarticular structures may be affected in up to 30% of cases.

Attacks are often repeated in the same joint but new locations may get involved.

The attacks remit spontaneously and patients are completely asymptomatic between the recurrences.

During the attacks, patients may have painful, erythematous plaques, which are nonpitting to pressure, appearing and disappearing suddenly. These may be located in the affected joint or elsewhere. Forearms, hands, feet, and ankles are the most common sites.

Intradermal or subcutaneous nodules, especially in the hands, may appear in parallel with the joint manifestations in about 30% of the people. These normally disappear within a few days].

Differential Diagnoses

Microcrystalline arthritis
Inflammatory bowel disease, among others.

Lab Studies

Increased ESR during the attacks but rarely between attacks
No hemogram or other biochemical alterations have been found.
Raised rheumatoid factor levels.
High prevalence of ACPA [It is also the most specific serological marker of rheumatoid arthritis]

Imaging

The original studies found that radiography showed no joint destruction (erosions) in patients with PR, even those who had suffered more than 100 acute attacks. In cases that have evolved to RA, erosions are not very different from those found in typical cases of RA

MRI scans have shown synovitis and bone edema in selected cases.

Diagnosis

It is mainly clinical and based on history and examination. The patient needs to be observed for a period before diagnosis could be reached at.

Many diagnostic criteria have been suggested

Pasero & Barbieri

A history of brief sudden-onset, recurrent attacks of monoarthritis
Direct observation of one attack by a physician
More than five attacks in the last 2 years
Three or more joints involved in different attacks
Negative x-rays, acute phase reactants and rheumatoid factor
Exclusion of other recurrent monoarthritis
- Gout
- Chondrocalcinosis
- Intermittent hydrarthrosis
- Periodic diseases

Hannonen et al

Recurrent attacks of sudden-onset mono- or poly-arthritis of para-articular soft-tissue inflammation lasting from a few hours to 1 week
Verification of a least one attack by a physician
Subsequent attacks in at least three different joints
Exclusion of other forms of arthritides

Guerne & Weisman

Six-month history of brief-sudden-onset and recurrent episodes of monoarthritis or, rarely, polyarthritis or of soft tissue inflammation
Direct observation of one attack by a physician
Three or more joints involved in different attacks
An absence of erosions on radiographs
Exclusion of other arthritides

Treatment of Palindromic Rheumatism

Treatment of PR is challenging and still evolving.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used to treat acute episodes.

When the attacks are polyarticular, or when the patient has risk factors, the empirical use of diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs should be considered.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may also be an option for those with refractory, frequent attacks.

Hydroxychloroquine (a DMARD) reportedly may help control attacks and reduce the risk of progression to rheumatoid arthritis. The response to antimalarials ranges between 15 and 80%

Glucocorticoids have also been used, with some improvement during acute attacks;

Other DMARDs have been used with varying results. These include dpenicillamine, sulfasalazine, chlorambucil, etc. There are no published studies on the use of leflunomide, methotrexate or biologics in PR.