Osteomalation under the mask of spondyloarthritis

Objective. To demonstrate the possibility of having a spondyloarthritic mask of osteomalacia in patients of both sexes.

Materials and methods. Two clinical cases of osteomalacia occurring under the mask of spondyloarthritis in patients treated at the Clinical Rheumatology Hospital of Saint-Petersburg, Russia, as well as similar cases described in the literature, were analyzed.

Results. In the cases described, patients were diagnosed with a disease from the group of spondyloarthritis based on a number of individual symptoms, such as pain in the lower back and stiffness, as well as instrumental examination data. At the same time, with in-depth evaluation, the pain in the lower back did not did not met to the inflammatory pain ASAS criteria, and there were also no signs of general laboratory activity of the disease. The conventional therapy for spondyloarthritis was ineffective. With the re-evaluation of clinical, laboratory and instrumental data, the diagnosis was changed to osteomalacia. Appointment of adequate therapy with vitamin D after a review of the diagnosis resulted in both a regression of clinical symptoms and an improvement in laboratory parameters.

Conclusions. If the patient has pain in the lower back, especially without clear signs of inflammatory, no signs of general laboratory activity, further examination is necessary to clarify possible osteomalacia. Spondyloarthritis should be only diagnosed in cases with the secondary nature of symptoms excluded.

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