Acute Monarticular Arthritis After Vaccination

Abstract

A case of acute arthritis of the right knee following routine vaccination against smallpox is described. This is believed to be the first case in which vaccinia virus was recovered from human synovial fluid. A pathogenesis is postulated invoking the known viremia following vaccination with possible metastatic foci, such as the joint in the present case. The authors feel that in all cases of arthritis in which the etiology is not readily apparent, viral studies should be performed.