Aseptic Abscess Syndrome in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report

Abstract

Aseptic abscess syndrome is a rare and possibly underdiagnosed condition characterized by the presence of sterile neutrophilic collections in various tissues that do not respond to antimicrobial therapy but rather require anti-inflammatory treatment. There is limited literature linking this condition to rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we present the case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, presenting with prolonged febrile syndrome and multiple sterile abscesses. A diagnosis of aseptic abscess syndrome was made, and successful resolution of the abscesses was achieved following treatment with glucocorticoid pulses and infliximab. Clinicians should consider this condition in patients with inflammatory diseases who develop abscesses in different tissues where no causative microbiological agent can be identified.

Keywords

• arthritis
• rheumatoid
• abscess
• fever
• hereditary autoinflammatory diseases