title: Digital vasculitis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis responded well to adalimumab.
abstract: 42-year-old old female patient, followed up with diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years, was admitted with necrotising ulcer of left hand 1st and 2nd fingertips and pain, swelling, limitation of movement, and morning stiffness at bilateral wrist, and metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. Laboratory tests revealed elevated acute phase reactants. Radial and ulnar arteries were clear in upper extremity Doppler ultrasound. The patient was diagnosed as RA activation and digital ulcer and administered iloprost infusion for five days and 1 mg/kg corticosteroid and 20 mg/week methotrexate (MTX). After one month, a partial regression of clinical and laboratory findings was observed. However, 6 months later, due to relapsed and increased complaints and findings, adalimumab 40 mg was administered. Two months later, clinical and laboratory findings apparently decreased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Sifa University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Senol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobak
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Sifa University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Sifa University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Sifa University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karaarslan