PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A E Voskuyl
AU  - A H Zwinderman
AU  - M L Westedt
AU  - J P Vandenbroucke
AU  - F C Breedveld
AU  - J M Hazes
TI  - Factors associated with the development of vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis: results of a case-control study.
AID  - 10.1136/ard.55.3.190
DP  - 1996 Mar 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 190--192
VI  - 55
IP  - 3
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/55/3/190.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/55/3/190.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis1996 Mar 01; 55
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate those characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that are associated with the development of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV). METHODS: Demographic and clinical data of 69 patients who had been diagnosed as having RV were compared with those of 138 contemporaneous control patients with RA who were not suspected to have vasculitis. Vasculitis was confirmed histologically in 96% of the subjects with RV. RESULTS: Variables associated with the development of RV were: 1) male gender, presence of increased serum concentrations of rheumatoid factor, joint erosions, subcutaneous nodules, number of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs previously prescribed, treatment (ever) with D-penicillamine or azathioprine; 2) presence of nail fold lesions and any other extrarticular feature one year before the time of diagnosis of RV; 3) treatment with corticosteroids at the time of diagnosis of RV. CONCLUSIONS: The development of RV is associated with male gender, extra-articular features, and a severe course of RA as indicated by the presence of joint destruction and need for intensive treatment with antirheumatic drugs. The strongest association was found with the presence of increased concentrations of rheumatoid factor.