engleski

Osteological evidence for rheumatoid arthritis in the Early Modern Age cemetery Drinovci – Greblje from Croatia

In 2012 the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments and the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb conducted systematic archaeological excavations in the hinterland of Dalmatia at the site Drinovci – Greblje. Twenty two graves dated to the second half of the sixteenth century were excavated and analyzed in the Anthropological centre of the Croatian academy of sciences and arts. One skeleton attracted the attention of archaeologists and anthropologists. This skeleton was buried in a contracted position laying on its back which is a unique position for this time period. Anthropological analysis revealed that these 40 – 50 years old female suffered from pronounced osteoporosis, and chronic disease that affected all of the preserved joints. The most involved joints were the joints of the hands, temporomandibular joints, and the cervical spine that exhibited total destruction of the dens axis of the second vertebrae. This pathological picture is consistent with rheumatoid arthritis, which is a symmetric, inflammatory, peripheral polyarthritis of unknown etiology. Differential diagnosis includes psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other conditions that will be discussed. An additional question is whether the unusual position in which this individual was buried can be explained by the severe rheumatoid arthritis that affected it?

Drinovci – Greblje; Early Modern Age; rheumatoid arthritis

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