Post-Chemotherapy Arthralgia or Arthritis (Chemotherapy-Associated Arthropathy)

Underlying cancers include:

(1) lung

(2) breast

(3) gastric

(4) colon

(5) cervical

(6) urinary bladder

(7) lymphoma

(8) glioblastoma

Clinical features:

(1) joint pain

(2) tender joints

(3) morning stiffness

A key feature is onset after the start of chemotherapy.

Some cases may be related to a hypersensitivity reaction to the agent. Some cases show features of an autoimmune reaction such as a positive ANA.

Differential diagnosis:

(1) pre-existing arthropathy

(2) cancer-related arthropathy (paraneoplastic)

Patients typically have a good response to therapy (NSAID, corticosteroids, DMARDs). Some patients have resolution within a year after onset.