Hypercholesterolaemic arthropathy in primary biliary cirrhosis.

A new cause of severe transient fitting polyarthritis is described in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis. Hypercholesterolaemia is thought to provoke acute inflammatory periarthritis and peritendinitis. The clinical features are sudden onset of peripheral joint pain and effusion, with redness of the overlying skin, often precipitated by unusual exercise. Cholestyramine may help to prevent this form of arthritis.