Kartagener's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

We herein present the case of a 47-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated by Kart-agener's syndrome (KS). Although her RA disease activity score (DAS28-CRP) decreased following the administration of periodontitis treatment and etanercept, she did not achieve symptom relief or DAS28-CRP remission. After undergoing surgery for chronic sinusitis, her articular symptoms improved and the DAS28-CRP declined to the level of remission. Patients with KS may develop respiratory infections due to an impaired defense mechanism against microbes in the airway. Therefore, in patients with RA complicated by KS, comprehensive management of infection, including surgical therapy for sinusitis, is needed to reduce the RA disease activity. © 2014 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.