title: Rheumatoid necroses in the forefoot.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University, Germany. Irina_Berger@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Klaus-Dieter
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer-Scholten
mesh_terms: 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