title: Isolated nail fold vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated NFV has a favourable prognosis compared with systemic vasculitis. There is a low risk of developing systemic or extra-articular disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications*