title: Rheumatoid vasculitis presenting as appendicitis.
abstract: Appendicitis was diagnosed in a 38-year-old patient with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Despite appendectomy the patient's clinical condition deteriorated. Thorough microscopical evaluation of the pathological anatomical specimens from the appendix made possible a diagnosis of necrotizing vasculitis. The systemic nature of the vasculitis was confirmed with a muscle biopsy. A complete remission was induced with immunosuppressive treatment. The case exemplifies a rare but serious manifestation of rheumatoid vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Laar
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: de Beus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collée
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Breedveld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001065:Appendix / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents