INTERMETATARSAL BURSITIS AS A MANIFESTATION OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS – A CASE PRESENTATION
Authors:
Mirna Reihl, Miroslav Mayer, Branimir Anić
Summary
We present a patient with an exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis featuring intermetatarsal bursitis. Inflammatory changes in the intermetatarsal bursae were confirmed by ultrasonography, whereas there was no sign of inflammation in the metatarsophalangeal joints. Enlarged structures of the intermetatarsal bursae that transgressed the normal anatomical boundaries, thus producing the ‘hourglass’ sign, were visualized by magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasound-controlled infiltration of depo-methylprednisolon administered to the affected bursae led to clinical improvement and radiological regression. Administration of a biological agent would be the next disease-management option in line with the therapeutic guidelines in the setting of active arthritis suspected in our patient’s arthritis flare up. Thus we would like to emphasize the value of musculosceletal US and targeted intervention in ‘tight-control’ disease management and in differentiating the cause of metatarsalgia in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Further investigations are required to determine the incidence of intermetatarsal bursitis in rheumatoid arthritis as well as their clinical and prognostic significance and optimal therapeutic approach.