Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: what we know about?

V.I. Mazurov^1,2, I.Z. Gaydukova^1,2, E.P. Filonenko^{2 1}Clinical Rheumatological Hospital No. 25, St. Petersburg

²I.I. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, St. Petersburg 

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), also known as chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (so-called "sterile" osteomyelitis) is an auto-inflammatory bone disease of unknown etiology, which is the most severe form of chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis. The disease is characterized by mono- and multifocal lesions of long tubular bones and occurs mainly in childhood and adolescence but can also occur in adult patients. In the presence of multiple bone lesions of unclear etiology and skin manifestations such as acne, palmoplantar pustulosis, less common psoriasis, the disease is called SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis). The ambiguity of views about CRMO brings difficulties in understanding its clinical association with the group of immune inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The problem of CRMO requires a careful study of its pathogenesis, clinical course, complications and complex therapy. This article aims to familiarize physicians of therapeutic specialties with modern views about the pathogenetic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis of CRMO, as well as the basic principles of its treatment, based on international consensus data due to the lack of national clinical guidelines for the treatment of CRMO. The need for the participation of a multidisciplinary team in the development of a treatment tactics concerning CNO was particularly noted.

Keywords: chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis, SAPHO syndrome, "sterile" osteomyelitis.

For citation: Mazurov V.I., Gaydukova I.Z., Filonenko E.P. Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: what we know about? RMJ. 2022;6:57–61.