Health Encyclopedia

Adult Still's disease

Definition

Adult Still's disease is a rare illness marked by high fevers, rash, and joint pain. It may lead to long-term (chronic) arthritis.

It is more commonly called adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).

Alternative Names

Still's disease - adult; AOSD

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Fewer than 1 out of 100,000 people develop adult Still's disease each year. It affects women more often than men.

Still's disease that occurs in children is called systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

The cause of adult Still's disease is unknown. No risk factors for the disease have been identified.

Symptoms

Almost all patients will have fever, joint pain, sore throat, and a rash.

Joint pain, warmth, and swelling are common. Usually, several joints are involved at the same time. Often, patients have morning stiffness of joints that lasts for several hours.
The fever usually comes on quickly once per day, most commonly in the afternoon or evening.
The skin rash is typically salmon pink colored and comes and goes with the fever.

Additional symptoms include:

Abdominal pain and swelling
Pain with a deep breath (pleurisy)
Sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes (glands)
Weight loss

Occasionally, the spleen or liver may become swollen. Lung and heart inflammation may occur.

Signs and tests

Adult Still's disease can only be diagnosed after other diseases are ruled out. You may need many medical tests before a final diagnosis is made.

A physical exam may reveal a fever, rash, and arthritis. The health care provider will use a stethoscope to listen for changes in the sound of the heart or lungs that may suggest pericarditis or pleurisy.

The following blood tests can be helpful in diagnosing adult Still's Disease.

CBC may show a high number of white blood cells and reduced number of red blood cells
CRP (C reactive protein), a measure of inflammation, will be higher than normal
ESR (sedimentation rate), a measure of inflammation, will be higher than normal
Ferritin (protein that stores iron) level will be very high
- Fibrinogen level will be high
- Liver function tests will show high levels of high AST /ALT
Rheumatoid factor and ANA test will be negative

Other tests may be needed to check for inflammation of the joints, chest, liver, and spleen.

Abdominal ultrasound
CT scan of the abdomen
X-rays of the joints,chest, or stomach area (abdomen)

Treatment

The goal of treatment for adult Still's disease is to control the symptoms of arthritis. Salicylates (aspirin) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are usually the first form of treatment.

Prednisone may be used for more severe cases.

If the disease persists for a long time (becomes chronic), medicines that suppress the immune system (which helps reduce inflammation) might be needed. Such medicines include:

Methotrexate
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists such as Enbrel (etanercept)

Expectations (prognosis)

Studies show that in about 20% of patients, all symptoms go away in a year and never come back. In about 30% of patients, all symptoms go away but then come back several times over the next years.

Symptoms continue for a long-time (chronic) in about half of patients with adult Still's disease.

Complications

Arthritis in several joints
Liver disease
Pericarditis
Pleural effusion
Spleen enlargement

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of Adult Still's disease.

If you have already been diagnosed with the condition, you should call your health care provider if you have a cough or difficulty breathing.

References

Harris ED, Budd RC, Genovese MC, Firestein GS, Sargent JS, Sledge CB. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005:1047-1048.

Pay S, Turkcapar N, Kalyoncu M, et al. A multicenter study of patients with adult-onset Still's disease compared with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Clin Rheumatol. 2005 Dec 20;:1-6.

Efthimiou P, Paik PK, Bielory L. Diagnosis and management of adult onset Still's disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 May;65(5):564-72. Epub 2005 Oct 11. Review.

Kadar J, Petrovicz E. Adult-onset Still's disease. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2004 Oct;18(5):663-76. Review.

Review Date:7/24/2008
Reviewed By:Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by Verimed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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