Disseminated Tuberculosis with Poncet’s Disease Masquerading as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – A Case Report

Tuberculosis (TB) rheumatism (Poncet’s disease) is defined as a polyarthritis associated with extrapulmonary TB in which there is no evidence of bacteriological involvement of the joints. We report a case of 21-year-old female whose initial clinical and laboratory investigations were suggestive of inflammatory arthropathy. The case was complicated by weak anti-nuclear antibody positivity of anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (+) antibodies, suggestive of systemic lupus erythematosus. However, after clinical examination and investigations, the patient was diagnosed as a case of disseminated TB with Poncet’s disease. The patient was started on anti-tubercular treatment and showed improvement at the end of 1 st month of treatment. The case highlights that Poncet’s disease should be considered as one of the differentials while dealing with cases of unexplained or prolonged arthralgia.