Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem worldwide, particularly in the developing countries. However, the primary organ affected is mostly lung, and skeletal TB accounts 10–35% of extrapulmonary TB (skeletal TB reported up to 3% of all TB cases) [
Clinical manifestations of tuberculous arthritis include pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion of the affected joint, but other inflammatory signs such as erythema and warmth may be absent. Only one-third of patients with skeletal TB reported fever and weight loss [
Herein we report a case of tuberculous mono-arthritis affecting the right knee joint in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We think this is a diagnostic challenge encountered in clinical rheumatology. This is also a very rare presentation in the literature where cases from Sri Lanka have not been reported previously even though Sri Lanka is an endemic country for tuberculosis.
A 42-year-old Sri Lankan-Sinhalese male presented with right knee joint swelling and pain for one year. Knee joint pain was associated with features of inflammatory arthritis in other small and large joints of the limbs. He experienced intermittent fever and progressive loss of weight for the same duration.
He was a patient with long-standing history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and interstitial lung disease. At the very first presentation to the rheumatology clinic, 26 peripheral joints were involved including all proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and both wrist joints. His joint symptoms persisted for 3-month duration. Though both rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) were negative, initial erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were elevated. Diagnosis of RA was initially made based on 2010-EULAR/ACR criteria in which his score was 7.
Current medications include methotrexate (MTX) 7.5 mg weekly, sulfasalazine (SSZ) 1 g thrice a day, leflunomide (LEF) 10 mg daily, and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) 1 g twice a day. Despite good drug adherence, control of disease activity is poor during last two years with high disease activity score (DAS28 > 5). Hence, to achieve low disease activity, we planned for rituximab therapy which was not readily available in our resource-poor setting. Oral prednisolone has been prescribed intermittently to relieve his symptoms.
Examination revealed swollen and tender right knee joint with effusion and limited range of motion (Figure
Swollen right knee joint on clinical examination.
His ESR was persistently elevated above 50 mm/hr that was attributed to active synovitis. Other investigations were as follows: white blood cell count, 6600/mm3 with 72% neutrophils; platelet count, 480 000/mm3; hemoglobin, 12.0 g/dL; CRP, 14 mg/L; and serum uric acid, 6 mg/dL. Plain radiographs of right knee joint were normal except for soft tissue swelling (Figure
Plain radiograph of right knee joint: anteroposterior view (a); lateral view (b).
During last one year, his right knee joint has been aspirated several times due to recurrent accumulation of joint fluids causing significant discomfort. The most recent (one month ago) findings of joint fluid analysis were as follows: polymorphs, 18240/mm3; lymphocytes, 60320/mm3; and red cells, nil/mm3. Routine bacteriology culture did not yield any organism in multiple occasions. Uric acid crystals or malignant cells were never identified on those samples. Before eight months of this presentation, the patient was treated with empirical intravenous antibiotics even for the suspected septic arthritis. Intra-articular steroid was injected to the right knee joint on two occasions afterwards.
During a routine clinic visit, we reconsidered the possibilities for resistant knee joint effusion and sent the joint fluid for acid fast bacilli (AFB) and polymerase chain reaction for TB (TB-PCR), and both came positive. He was immediately started on anti-tuberculous therapy upon diagnosis.
His respiratory problem was reevaluated with computed tomography (CT) of chest that further confirmed non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). The Mantoux test was non-reactive. AFB and TB-PCR on broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) were negative. He was subjected to HIV screening test that also came negative.
We confirmed the diagnosis of TB of knee joint with positive AFB on microscopic evaluation and positive TB-PCR of joint fluid aspiration. Synovial biopsy was not performed. TB was not contemplated for the right knee joint swelling with effusion on initial presentation because RA was well established, and the patient had high disease activity involving other large joints of the limbs, and the affected knee did not show features of joint destruction despite marked soft tissue swelling on the imaging. Possibility of septic arthritis and secondary osteoarthritis was considered which delayed the investigation for TB.
Our patient was on multiple immunosuppressive disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), namely, MTX, SSZ, LEF, MMF, and prednisolone, to control his disease. Association between use of DMARDs and TB is well established in literature [
Though TB is increasingly reported along with HIV/AIDS, primary bone infection remains uncommon [
Diagnosis of TB of knee joint remains challenging owing to its rarity, non-specific symptoms, atypical indolent clinical course, low sensitivity, and low specificity of available diagnostic tools, particularly when associated with other common joint disorders such as RA. Triplett et al. reviewed thirteen cases of TB arthritis of knee joint with delayed diagnosis [
TB should be considered as an important differential diagnosis for chronic mono-arthritis of knee joint with a high degree of suspicion. Particularly where TB is endemic, clinicians should reconsider the possibility of tuberculous septic arthritis, even when well-established another background diagnosis is present to explain the joint symptoms.
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and images.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
HS and KD investigated the case, formed the case report, and edited the content of the paper. All authors approved the final version for publication.
The authors would like to thank Prof. T.P. Weerarathna for his contribution in editing the manuscript.