Rare Extra-articular Manifestation of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Scleromalacia Perforans

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease with manifestations in many organs. In most cases, involvement of the locomotor system dominates the clinical picture. However, extra-articular manifestations can be detected in almost any organ system with varied incidence in different series. Ophthalmic presentations include Sjogren's syndrome, episcleritis, and scleritis. The most severe form of scleritis, scleromalacia perforans, is a very rare ophthalmic manifestation. We present the case of a 60-year-old man who had had rheumatoid arthritis for more than 10 years. He had scleromalacia perforans but no other extra-articular manifestations.

Keywords

• rheumatoid arthritis
• scleromalacia perforans
• extra-articular
• vasculitis