Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and congenital heart disease: this is not casual.

This case presents a patient with congenital cyanotic heart disease in whom secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy was diagnosed. The symptoms of severe bilateral leg pain started 2 months before hospital admission. The presence of clubbing, painful swelling of the lower limbs and his comorbid condition roused the suspicion of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and a skeleton radiograph of the lower limbs was performed. The last showed changes consistent with periosteal new bone formation, so a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug was started with complete resolution of the debilitating pain. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is an uncommon disease that may be genetically acquired or secondary to other conditions affecting lungs, heart, liver or bowel. Considering it elusive pathogenesis, treatment options are scarce and symptomatic relief is still the main objective.