Polyarticular inflammatory arthritis in a pre‐Columbian skeleton from Kodiak Island, Alaska, U.S.A.

Abstract A human skeleton of a 30–35‐year‐old female from Kodiak Island, Alaska, U.S.A. exhibits skeletal lesions which strongly suggest polyarticular inflammatory arthritis. Skeletal lesions associated with the joints include porosity and destruction of joint surfaces, periarticular cystic erosion,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Main Authors: Ortner, Donald J., Utermohle, Charles J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1981
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330560103
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fajpa.1330560103
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ajpa.1330560103
Description
Summary:Abstract A human skeleton of a 30–35‐year‐old female from Kodiak Island, Alaska, U.S.A. exhibits skeletal lesions which strongly suggest polyarticular inflammatory arthritis. Skeletal lesions associated with the joints include porosity and destruction of joint surfaces, periarticular cystic erosion, and hypertrophic bone formation. Severe manifestations occur in the knee, ankle, and elbow. Hand and foot bones are also involved. However there is minimal involvement of the spine. The age and sex of the skeleton and the pattern of arthritic change are compatible with a diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Since the specimen is probably dated to before A.D. 1200 it represents an important case in trying to clarify the history of polyarticular inflammatory arthritis.