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Rheumatoid vasculitis

Evidence: Antibody

Names

Rheumatoid Vasculitis
RV

Description

Rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) is a rare autoimmune disorder affecting a small number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation and damage to the blood vessels.  Vessels in any part of the body may be affected, though large blood vessels are less likely to be impacted than medium or small blood vessels.  RV most often develops in patients who have suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 10 to 14 years.  Patients often experience feelings of malaise, sores on the legs, severely decreased blood flow to the fingers and toes, nerve problems, and eye aggravation.  The cause of RV is uncertain, though smoking is believed to significantly increase risk.  Complications involving the organs may be fatal.  Available treatments have mixed success, and prognosis remains poor.

Bloggers

None

Prevalence

US Cases: 273,000 - 839,000 [Bartels 2009]. Bartels provides rates of vasculitis among RA patients over time, with a range of 25.9% to 33.2% from 2003 through 2006.

Typical Age of onset

Median age of onset is 63 years.
Source: Kishore 2017

Symptoms

  • Small brown spots around the nails (nail fold infarcts)

  • Ulcers on the legs

  • Raised purple spots on the skin (palpable purpura)

  • Tingling or numbness

  • Difficulty moving part of the body

  • Inflammation in the whites of the eyes (scleritis)

  • Vision changes

  • Eye pain

  • Chest pain

  • Shortness of breath

  • Blood in the urine or stool

  • Fever

  • Weight loss