Background: Adult onset Still's disease (AOS) is an inflammatory disorder which associates variable articular and systemic manifestations. Despite a better knowledge of its biological and clinical particularities; the pathogeny of this disease remains unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, biological and, outcome characteristics of AOS.
Methods: It is a retrospective study about 11 cases of AOS hospitalized over a 24-year-period (1982-2005) at The Rheumatology Department of Charles Nicolle's Hospital of Tunis. All patients responded to the Yamaguchi criteria.
Results: Mean age was 35.4 years [20y-70y] with a sex-ratio of 0.57. Fever and articular involvement were the most frequent signs. Cutaneous symptoms were present in 6 patients. Three of our patients developed destructive arthritis. Renal amyloidosis, a rare complication of AOS, has been noted in one case.
Conclusion: AOS is an unfrequent disorder characterized by its diagnosis and treatment difficulties. Recent advances in immunotherapy may better the management of AOS.