Vasculitic Syndromes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview

The authors present an account on syndromes caused by extraarticular inflammatory changes ofthe blood vessels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most serious one among them is systemicrheumatoid vasculitis. It threatens the subset of RA with a defined predisposition. The mainmanifestations comprise fatigue, loss of body weight, dermal changes (incl. acral isch aemia) andmononeuritis multiplex. The diagnosis is supported by bioptic evidence of fibrinoid necrosis in theactive stage of the disease. Early intensive therapy (the basis is IV pulsed cyclophosphamidetreatment) improves the prognosis quoad vitam and reduces the risk of relapses. The review includesbasic information on leukocytoclastic vasculitis in RA, rheumatoid aortitis and digital vasculitis inRA.

Key words:
rheumatoid arthritis, systemic rheumatoid vasculitis, leucocytoclastic vasculitis,