What Is Rheumatoid Vasculitis?

Rheumatoid vasculitis: manifested as distal vasculitis, skin ulcers, peripheral neuropathy, pericarditis, visceral arteritis such as heart, lung, intestine, spleen, pancreas, kidney, lymph nodes and testis.

Rheumatoid vasculitis

Overview of rheumatoid vasculitis

Rheumatoid vasculitis description

Peripheral vascular damage is a typical feature of rheumatoid arthritis. It often occurs in patients with high rheumatoid factor titers and systemic complications, such as pericarditis and Felty syndrome.

Causes of rheumatoid vasculitis

Manifested as distal vasculitis, skin ulcers

Rheumatoid vasculitis signs

The clinical manifestations are cutaneous vasculitis damage, localized palpable purpura, non-specific erythema of the trunk, vascular infarction, bullae and ulcers, and finger (toe) gangrene occurs in 20% of patients. Nail folds develop capillary dilatation, infarct papules, and nodules. Histopathological manifestations of leukocyte fragmentation vasculitis, lymphocytic necrotizing vasculitis can also be seen. Different invasion of blood vessels, the condition is different. In severe cases, it invades the small and medium arteries and has extensive systemic damage. Systemic symptoms and signs include moderate fever, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, abdominal pain and / or gastrointestinal bleeding, pleurisy or pulmonary infiltration, pericarditis, mild proteinuria and hematuria, retinal bleeding, and central or peripheral nervous system Affected.

Diagnosis of rheumatoid vasculitis

Most patients have rheumatoid nodules, which can be distinguished from SLE vasculitis and nodular polyarteritis.

Rheumatoid vasculitis treatment options

Treatment is generally salicylates or antimalarials such as hydroxychloroquine. Dapsone may be effective. In severe cases, corticosteroids, azathioprine, or cyclophosphamide can be used.