RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH SYSTEMIC MANIFESTATIONS: DIAGNOSIS, INDICATORS OF AN UNFAVORABLE COURSE

Abstract

The systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are fairly diverse. They are associated with high disease activity and an increased risk for deaths, primarily from cardiovascular events. Objective: to study the frequency and spectrum of extra-articular manifestations of RA. Subjects and methods. The trial enrolled 119 patients, including 110 women and 19 men (mean age 47.4+4.3 years), with the reliable and valid diagnosis of RA (mean duration 9.4+3.3 years). The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) 78 patients with the extra-articular manifestations of RA (a study group); 2) 44 patients without these signs (a comparison group). Clinical, laboratory, instrumental, and morphological studies were made using current diagnostic methods. Results. By and large, the extra-articular manifestations of RA are closely associated with its activity and joint lesion severity. The study group most commonly had anemia (71.4%), rheumatoid nodules (29.4%), generalized amyotrophy (26.9%), lymphadenopathy (26.1%), prolonged fever (24.4%), and rheumatoid vasculitis (18.5%). The development of extra-articular manifestations was associated with the activity and late diagnosis of RA and rheumatoid factor seropositivity.

Keywords

• rheumatoid arthritis
• systemic manifestations
• rheumatoid vasculitis
• indicators of unfavorable course