This patient has disseminated gonococcemia. Gonococcal arthritis and tenosynovitis typically involve both the upper and lower extremities equally. Vesicular skin lesions are characteristic of disseminated gonococcal disease. Females are at particular risk of gonococcemia during menstruation, since sloughing of the endometrium allows access to the blood supply, necrotic tissue enhances the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and there is an alteration of the pH. Patients who have a C6-8 deficiency have an increased risk of disseminated gonococcemia and tend to have multiple episodes. These patients are also at risk for bacteremia from Neisseria meningitidis.
Patients have angioedema without urticaria.
The syndrome is also associated with recurrent attacks of colic and episodes of laryngeal edema. The syndrome includes infertility, bronchiectasis, sinusitis, and situs inversus. It is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by abnormalities in the dynein arm of the cilia. Patients have impaired phagocyte adherence, aggregation, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis of C3b-coated particles. Clinically, there is delayed separation of the umbilical cord, sustained agranulocytosis, recurrent infections of skin and mucosa, gingivitis, and periodontal disease.