Total Knee Arthroplasty Following Mycobacterium Kansasii Septic Arthritis in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Essential Thrombocythemia

Arthritis and arthralgias are noted in up to 95% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but they are typically responsive to immunosuppression and are often transient [1]. The arthritis of SLE is characterized by a non-erosive inflammatory arthropathy (Jacouds Arthropathy); however, in the knee joint osteonecrosis can occur, leading to accelerated articular degeneration. Studies show that patients with SLE require TKA at an average age of 56 compared to age 69 in matched controls, without autoimmune disease [2].