Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy

PubMed, the Internet portal of biomedical and life sciences literature, indexed an interesting article, entitled “Pachydermoperiostosis (primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy)” (Medicina (B Aires). 2006;66(2):147-9). Authors are Cavallasca JA, Malah VA, fernandez DE et al, from the Division Reumatologia, Hospital de Clinicas Jose de San Martin, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pachydermoperiostosis or primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is a rare disease characterized by cutaneous and osteoarthicular involvement. The authors describe two patients with finger clubbing, watch crystal nails, bones thickenings, arthritis and different grades of skin affection, without other clinical manifestations. Both did not know of having relatives with the same alterations. Radiological studies of the affected areas showed periostosis. To access the abstract of the article, click here.