Effect of Ultrasound Therapy on Adult-Onset Still\'s Disease: A Case study

Adult-Onset Still's Disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. AOSD presents in 5% to 10% of patients as Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) accompanied by systemic manifestations. We reported a compelling case of a 39-year-old African male presenting one-month FUO along with skin rash, sore throat, and arthralgia. After an extensive workup, potential differential diagnoses were ruled out, and the patient was diagnosed with AOSD based on the Yamaguchi criteria. Ultrasound (US) and exercises were employed on both ankles, the left knee, left elbow and left wrist. Accordingly, we observed improvements in values of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) by 66.6%, Five Repetition Sit to Stand (FRSTS) values improved by 50%, and Time Up and Go (TUG) scores improved by 87.5%. Moreover, there were improvements in the score of the 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) questionnaire and muscle testing. This result might be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of US, leading to decreased pain and improved function.