Post Streptococcal Syndromes, A Rheumatologist Perspective

Post streptococcal syndromes may manifest in multiple organs including the musculoskeletal, central nervous, urinary, integumentary, and circulatory systems. The commonly described post streptococcal syndromes include acute rheumatic fever, post streptococcal glomerulonephritis, post streptococcal arthritis, and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders. Classically, these complications occur more often in children. While much is written in the pediatric literature regarding these syndromes, a compilation of information is difficult to find. This article summarizes some of the frequently described post streptococcal syndromes and associations. DESCRIPTION OF STREPTOCOCCUS Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GAS), Streptococcus pyrogenes, the most extensively studied member of the streptococcal family is a gram-positive cocci that appears in chains and pairs and demonstrates beta hemolysis (full lysis) on blood agar. Five to fifteen percent of the general population harbor this bacterium in the upper respiratory tract without disease. Nonetheless, GAS maybe responsible for numerous infections and infection related syndromes.(Table 1). Figure 1