• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center

Show Search
Hide Search
  • Disease Information
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Gout
    • Osteoporosis
  • Patient Corner
    • Drug Information Sheets
    • Managing Your Arthritis
    • RheumTV – Patient Education Video Library
  • Our Research
    • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
    • Current Research Studies
    • The Camille Julia Morgan Arthritis Research and Education Fund
  • About Us
    • Appointment Information
    • Contact Us
    • Our Faculty
    • Our Staff
    • Rheumatology Specialty Centers
  • Donate
Home / Ask the Expert / Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis?

April 10, 2007 By Arthritis Center

Question

I know a 25 year old woman who has recently complained of pain and swelling of her metacarpophalangeal joints of both her forefingers for the past several months. The right forefinger has a slight lateral twist due to the swelling. She also has a clinical history of being allergic to dust, pollen and strong odours(strong smelling detergent/perfume etc..)For the past three months she has had a nail infarct on her left little finger which seems to be a fungal infection(not confirmed microbiologically). The consultant rheumatologist has suspected poly arthritis and has requested for an ANA immunofluorescence test to be done(results awaited). The subject also has small patches of skin discolouration on her thigh and her left shoulder which have sensation.This discolouration has been there for the past few months.What would the possible diagnosis of this patient be and any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Answer

The joint symptoms certainly sound inflammatory in nature. The differential diagnosis remains very large but most prominently includes systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It is hard to comment on the skin lesions without seeing them. I agree with the ANA testing but would also include rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. If the skin lesions persist, a dermatology consultation (and biopsy if deemed appropriate) might be useful.

Arthritis Center

Founded in 1998, the Arthritis Center at Johns Hopkins is dedicated to providing quality education to patients and healthcare providers alike.

Primary Sidebar

Ask The Expert Topics

  • Alternative Therapies
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Associated With Other Illnesses
  • Bursitis and Tendinitis
  • Corticosteroids
  • Diet and Exercise
  • Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
  • Enteropathic Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • General Arthritis
  • Gout, Pseudogout, Other
  • Infectious Arthritis
  • Myositis
  • Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Reactive Arthritis
  • Regional Pain: Back and Neck
  • Rehabilitation
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Surgical Therapy
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
  • Systemic Sclerosis
  • Vasculitis
RheumTV Logo

Rheum.TV is an informational platform created to educate patients living with a rheumatic disease. With over 100 disease education videos produced by the team at Johns Hopkins Rheumatology.

Visit Rheum.TV

Footer

Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

  • Johns Hopkins Rheumatology
  • Johns Hopkins Lupus Center
  • Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center
  • Johns Hopkins Myositis Center
  • Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center
  • Johns Hopkins Sjögren’s Syndrome Center
  • Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Johns Hopkins Medicine

© 2023 Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
Patient Privacy