Exegesis. – We report a 36 years old black man presenting over many years polyarthralgias, broadning of fingers and clubbing of the fingers and toes extremities.
This was mentionned on other family members. The physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. There were no skin thickening, no psoriasis-like and cardio-pulmonary disease features.
These following exams were normal; Hemogram, fibrinogen, C reactive protein, rheumatoïd factor, serum calcium and phosphorus, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, chest X-ray, gastroduodenoscopy, electrocardiogram. The skeletal X-ray documented a widespread bone formation, a sacro-iliac osteosclerosis and interosseous ossifications beetwen tibias and fibulas.
Conclusion. – Pachydermoperiostosis diagnosis was set up on 3 out of the 4 Borochowitz criteria. The absence of pachyderma defines this incomplete form. The osteoarticular manifestations lead mainly to differential diagnosis with the secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and chronic inflammatory rheumatisms.
The underlying pathogenic mechanism of this disease remains still unclear.
