Background: Palindromic rheumatism is an inflammatory rheumatic disease characterised by recurrent attacks of arthritis confined to one or more peripheral joints. Each episode of arthritis rarely lasts more than 14 days, and subsides without leaving any residues.
Material and methods: Three patients with palindromic arthritis are presented, and the literature reviewed.
Results: The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the three patients were similar to those generally described for palindromic rheumatism. Two patients developed seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and one patient developed chronic seronegative polyarthritis.
Interpretation: Palindromic rheumatism may evolve into chronic polyarthritis.