Poncet’s disease, an uncommon manifestation of a common disease: a case report

Abstract

Poncet’s disease is a form of reactive arthritis caused by active extra-articular tuberculosis. Limited data available on this rare disease has hindered a complete understanding of it. Even though its prevalence was previously disputed, the incidence has recently been increasing, prompting the need for improved knowledge. Polyarthritis can be the only initial symptom preceding overt manifestation, and it can cause disabling pain, leading to restricted mobility and function. However, even in the context of active tuberculosis, polyarthritis of Poncet’s disease can be misinterpreted as another rheumatological disease that presents similarly.We report a 47-year-old woman, who presented with inflammatory polyarthritis in the background of recurrent sterile pyuria with obstructive uropathy which was due to active genitourinary tuberculosis. She showed a dramatic resolution of symptoms following the initiation of anti-tuberculous treatment.We suggest that tuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for patients presenting with atypical joint pain, particularly in regions where tuberculosis is endemic.