[Polyarthralgia disclosing hyperthyroidism. Two case reports].

BACKGROUND

We report two cases of rheumatism associated with hyperthyroidism. In both cases, arthralgia totally regressed after thyroid treatment.

CASE REPORTS: Two 79-year-old and 59-year-old women developed manifestations of polymyalgia rheumatica and psoriasis arthritis respectively. Corticosteroid therapy was ineffective and followed by manifestations of hyperthyroidism. The first patient was treated with carbimazole and the second with thyroidectomy. Once the hyperthyroidism was controlled, both patients experienced a dramatically rapid cure of their arthralgias.

DISCUSSION: Scalpulo-humeral periarthritis is the main articular complication of hyperthyroidism. True manifestations of "thyrotoxicosis rheumatism" are unusual and may be linked with a direct toxicity of the thyroid hormones on joint cartilage or with an autoimmune manifestation of hyperthyroidism.