Isolated nail fold vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis.

AUTOR(ES)

Watts, R A

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES--To establish the clinical significance of isolated nail fold vasculitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS--Patients attending hospital with established RA were assessed by a single observer using unaided vision. Isolated nail fold vasculitis (NFV) was diagnosed as small nail edge or nail fold lesions without any evidence of other extra-articular or systemic vasculitis. Patients were followed prospectively. RESULTS--Thirty patients with isolated NFV were identified and followed for a median interval of 22 months. Three patients died within three months of diagnosis and six developed complications possibly indicative of extra-articular disease: xerostomia (three), pericarditis (one), pleural effusion and empyaema (one), pulmonary fibrosis (one). No patient developed systemic vasculitis. CONCLUSION--Isolated NFV has a favourable prognosis compared with systemic vasculitis. There is a low risk of developing systemic or extra-articular disease.

Documentos Relacionados

• Cryoimmunoglobulinemia in rheumatoid arthritis. Significance in serum of patients with rheumatoid vasculitis.
• Statistical reappraisal of the clinical significance of nail beading in rheumatoid arthritis.
• Nail Studies in Rheumatoid Arthritis *
• The nail dystrophy of psoriatic arthritis.
• Chromosomes in rheumatoid arthritis.