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What causes Tietze syndrome?
The answer may surprise you, but researchers have yet to find out exactly what causes Tietze syndrome, have some good ideas, in as benign as a cough as frightening as cancer. More than one of the following conditions in combination can cause and Tietze syndrome is often difficult or even impossible to determine the exact cause. Trauma, recurrent microtrauma, or intercostal hematoma.
A quick, sudden movement could cause a pool of blood, a blow-forming in the rib cartilage. Bruising (hematomas) in the cartilage joining the ribs to the breastbone (the intercostal area) have been seen in baseball players, but could be caused by something as simple as waving a rug. Recurrent episodes of microtrauma to the chest wall, martial arts, boxing, karate and other, severe vomiting and / or coughing are examples of where the chest would experience ongoing trauma but could be as simple as lifting more awkward time.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and disabling disease that occurs in approximately 2% of the population, and is seen more in women than in men. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but significantly higher levels of substance P (neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting pain signals) have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients. Inflammation costochondral margins that are commonly associated with Tietze's syndrome are the same two pressure points associated with fibromyalgia, it is important that all symptoms of a patient are taken into account when making a diagnosis of Tietze syndrome.
Arthritis and related diseases Rarely, patients with psoriatic arthritis reported Tietze's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis is a disease in arthritis is accompanied by red patches of inflamed skin. Other diseases associated with arthritis (ie, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis and Reiter's disease) could also produce Tietze syndrome.
Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease often report costochondritis and Tietze syndrome.
Cancer
An Italian study led by R. Cocco found that several patients who were diagnosed with Tietze syndrome actually had tumors. All patients had the classic signs of Tietze syndrome-costal cartilage inflammation, pain and all were treated with a standard treatment for the disease: anti-inflammatory medications and an injection of cortisol. When symptoms do not improve, patients looking for answers: three cases were later found that Hodgkin's disease and a person had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. All four patients achieved a complete recovery after the cancer was diagnosed.
Heredity
Nobody knows exactly what causes Tietze syndrome, but it certainly could be a hereditary factor. It could run in families, perhaps due to a genetic abnormality.
Radiotherapy
If you received radiation therapy to the breast or chest area, the possibility exists that Tietze syndrome experience at some point down the road (may be years after the therapy!).
Virus
A virus that caused my Tietze syndrome could have caused yours? You can read more about my experience with the virus in this blog.
Syphilis
Some studies have linked to outbreaks of syphilis Tietze's syndrome. You can find one of these reports here in the British Medical Journal.
Stress
There are no definitive studies that suggest that stress causes Tietze syndrome, but may worsen an underlying disease. For example, people with fibromyalgia should avoid stress, as the condition worsens.
