Poststreptococcal Reactive Arthritis: Report of One Case

Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA) is a clinical syndrome of reacitve arthritis. It is associated with recent streptococcal infections, but could not fulfill the revised Jones criteria for acute rheumatic fever (ARF). The incidence of PSRA cardiac complications to develop was as high as the ARF’s developing into rheumatic heart disease. A 9-year-old boy presented with limping gait. He had pain in his left knee for 4 days but no fever. His right knee was swelling with a limitaion of movement. A throat culture showed positive growth for group A streptococcus, and consequently antistreptolysin-O serum titer and C-reactive protein were elevated. A synovial fluid examination was turbid but sterile. After 3 days the arthralgia subsided rapidly. A cardiac color Doppler and electrocardiogram showed no evidence of valvular disease. Under the threat of high incidence f rheumatic heart disease in PSRA, we treated this patient with prophylactic antibiotics as acute rheumatic fever. A clinic follow up one year later showed neither sequels nor heart murmur on physical examination.