Abstract:
The authors describe an adult patient with history of chronic low back pain and recurrent prostatitis, marked limitation of lumbar spine motion and a radiograph demonstrating fused lumbar vertebrae, which suggest a diagnosis of spondylarthropathy. However, the absence of radiographic evidence of sacroilitis, the nature of the vertebral defects and a history of imperforate anus pointed towards the diagnosis of VATER association, rather than a spondylarthropathy. Although most patients with VATER association are diagnosed during infancy, the musculoskeletal anomalies can be overlooked while the potentially life-threatening problems are under treatment. These anomalies may become evident later in life. Therefore, in a rheumatologic practice, when evaluating patients with back pain and vertebral anomalies, one should become familiar with the varied manifestations of VATER association.
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Received: 27 March 2000 / Accepted: 17 August 2000
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Erkan, D., Lam, L., Yazici, Y. et al. VATER Association: Is it Recognised by Rheumatologists?. Clin Rheumatol 20, 128–131 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100670170083
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100670170083