Asymmetrical Rheumatoid Arthritis after Poliomyelitis

Abstract

Details are given of 12 cases of rheumatoid arthritis occurring in people previously paralysed by poliomyelitis. Joints controlled by the paralysed muscles were less affected than those in the contralateral non-paralysed limb. This sparing effect was most marked in completely flail limbs. Subcutaneous nodules showed similar asymmetrical distribution in two patients. It is suggested that decreased intra-articular pressure might be an important factor in this apparently mechanical effect. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.