Palindromic rheumatism (PR) is a syndrome characterised by recurrent, self-resolving inflammatory attacks in and around the joints, consists of arthritis or periarticular soft tissue inflammation. The course is often acute onset, with sudden and rapidly developing attacks or flares. There is pain, redness, swelling, and disability of one or multiple joints. The interval between recurrent palindromic attacks and the length of an attack is extremely variable from few hours to days. Attacks may become more frequent with time but there is no joint damage after attacks. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease, possibly an abortive form of rheumatoid arthritis. Presentation
The exact prevalence of palindromic rheumatism in general population is unknown, and this condition is often considered a rare disease by nonrheumatologists. However, recent Canadian study showed that the incidence of PR in a cohort of incident arthritis was one case of PR for every 1.8 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The incidence of PR is less than that of RA but is not as rare as that was thought to be. Palindromic rheumatism is a syndrome presented with inflammatory para-arthritis (soft tissue rheumatism) and inflammatory arthritis both of which cause sudden inflammation in one or several joints or soft tissue around joints. The flares usually present with  mono- or oligo-articular involvement, which have onset over hours and last a few hours to a few days, and then go away completely. However episodes of recurrence form a pattern, with symptom-free periods between attacks lasting for weeks to months.
Cryofibrinogenemic purpura is a skin condition that manifests as painful purpura with slow healing ulcerations and edema of both feet during winter months. : 823

See also
Cryofibrinogenemia
Skin lesion


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