Rheumatoid necroses in the forefoot.
BACKGROUND
The incidence and morphological features of rheumatoid necroses (RN) in the forefoot are unknown.


METHODS
Biopsy material from 223 patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was examined morphologically. The incidence and morphological features of RN in the forefoot were evaluated.


RESULTS
RN was found in 65% of cases, which had not been suspected clinically. It was correlated with pain in 69% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Rheumatoid necrosis contributes to the development of pain and foot deformation. It can be a significant factor worsening the clinical behavior in seropositive RA patients.
Berger
Irina
I
Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University, Germany. Irina_Berger@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Martens
Klaus-Dieter
KD
Meyer-Scholten
Carola
C
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology