Rheumatoid arthritis presenting as rheumatoid meningitis: A case report

Abstract

Rheumatoid meningitis typically presents as a late manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, and its pathogenesis remains uncertain. We describe a patient with neurological symptoms, subsequently found to have a brain mass of unclear etiology. The findings from imaging and histological analysis led to a diagnosis of rheumatoid meningitis. Surprisingly, this case presented in the absence of a history of arthritis or other systemic signs typically seen in RA. This case highlights the fact that rheumatoid meningitis can be the initial presenting symptom of rheumatologic disease and should be kept in the differential in patients with or without a history of RA.