A Case of Caplan's Syndrome Presenting as Acute Onset Polyarthritis.
- Author:
Han Hee RYU
1
;
Sung Hae CHANG
;
Hye Won KIM
;
Kichul SHIN
;
Eun Bong LEE
;
Jae Joon YIM
;
Yeong Wook SONG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Caplan's syndrome; Rheumatoid arthritis; Pneumoconiosis; Silicosis
- MeSH: Antirheumatic Agents; Arthralgia; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Biopsy; Caplan Syndrome; Dust; Humans; Joints; Korea; Lung; Pneumoconiosis; Silicosis; Thorax
- From:Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2011;18(1):36-40
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: Caplan originally described distinctive pulmonary nodules in miners who had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Later, the pulmonary nodules, together with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and exposure to inorganic dust were called Caplan's syndrome. This syndrome has been described by case reports in many countries but only two cases have been reported in Korea up to now. The patient in this case report was a 70-years-old man who had worked in the construction field for 20 years mainly demolishing buildings. He was diagnosed with silicosis by a lung biopsy 1 year prior to admission. He suddenly developed arthralgia and morning stiffness in multiple joints 2 weeks prior to admission. Chest imaging revealed aggravation of the bilateral pulmonary nodules. He was diagnosed with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. The lung nodules, arthralgia, and morning stiffness improved clinically after treatment with the corticosteroid and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
