Transient arthritis withpositive testsforrheumatoid factor as presenting signofshuntnephritis

Shuntnephritis isararecomplication ofa chronically infected ventriculoatrial shunt. A 17yearoldboyisdescribed, witharthritis in bothankles andpositive rheumatoid factor tests, whopresented withsymptoms ofshunt nephritis. Bloodcultures werepositive for Staphylococcus epidermidis. Thepatient recovered completely after removal oftheshunt andantibiotic treatment. Shuntnephritis should beconsidered inpatients withaventriculoatrial shunt presenting witharthritis, and thearthritis maybeanearly indicator ofan infected ventriculoatrial shunt.