Granulomatous cutaneous rheumatoid vasculitis.
Rheumatoid vasculitis is a term that includes many vascular reactions from capillaritis to severe systemic necrotizing vasculitis occurring in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but generally has been used to describe an immune complex reaction. The presence of vasculitis in the patient with RA has often been associated with a poorer prognosis; however, the prognosis is dependent on the presence of systemic disease. We report a patient with RA in whom multiple purpuric, cutaneous nodules, diffuse interstitial fibrosis, and high levels of circulating immune complexes developed. The cutaneous disease was characterized by a granuloma formation secondary to leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY.
J P
JP
Callen
E M
EM
Ahrens
D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex