Inflammatory rheumatic diseases as cause | Cause of tendosynovitis

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases as cause

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases as the cause of tendon sheath inflammation are caused by autoimmunological processes in the body. This is understood to be an attack of the body’s own defense system (immune system) on the body’s own structures, in this case on the tendon sheaths. These autoimmune reactions are triggered, for example, by pathogens such as chlamydia, gonococci or mycoplasma, which have components (antigens) similar to the structures, which are later attacked by the immune system.

An independent special form of tendosynovitis is called Tendovaginitis stenosans. This is a narrowing of the tendon sheath (stenosis) with thickening of the tendon running through it on the fingers of the hand. Due to the changes described, the passage of the tendon through the tendon sheath is more difficult and occurs with a clicking sound.

Affected are the tendon sheaths of the finger flexors or the short thumb extensor (Musculus extensor pollicis brevis) and long thumb abductor (Musculus abductor pollicis longus). In the latter case, the clinical picture is called tendovaginitis stenosans de Quervain.