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Table 2 Characteristics differentiating Mycobacterium marinum infection from rheumatoid arthritis flare

From: Flare or foe? - Mycobacterium marinum infection mimicking rheumatoid arthritis tenosynovitis: case report and literature review

 

Favoring MM infection

Favoring RA flare

Arthritis

Rare

Frequent

Tenosynovitis

Rare

Frequent

Skin findings

Typical swimmer’s granuloma with reddish-purplish discolouration

Rare presence of rheumatoid vasculitis or pyoderma gangraenosum

Laboratory findings

Elevated inflammatory markers (White blood count, C-reactive protein)

Leukocytosis rare

C-reactive protein in severe flares

Response to glucocorticoid therapy

No improvement

Usually improves

  1. MM Mycobacterium marinum, RA rheumatoid arthritis