Summary

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is characterised by digital clubbing and periosteal reaction of long bones. Most cases are associated with malignancy or other conditions such as congenital heart disease, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, biliary atresia and inflammatory bowel diseases. We report a middle-aged man found to have 15-year history of clubbing of the fingers and toes on his routine check-up for dyspepsia. Skiagram of hand joints showed periosteal apposition without any periosteal reaction of long bones. The search for a secondary cause of clubbing remained negative. The primary or idiopathic form is rare and has a good prognosis and has to be differentiated from secondary form. He was eradicated successfully with Pylori kit for his antral predominant Helicobacter-induced gastritis.