Rheumatoid Vasculitis - UNC School of Medicine
Download
Report
Transcript Rheumatoid Vasculitis - UNC School of Medicine
RHEUMATOID VASCULITIS
Kamal Kolappa
UNC Internal Medicine Morning Report
7.7.10
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid Vasculitis (RV) is a rare
complication of longstanding, severe
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Estimated incidence in 2-5% of RA patients1
Associated with chronic RA: Mean lag time 13.6
years between diagnosis of RA and onset of RV
Males are 2-4x more likely to develop RV than
females
RV cutaneous ulcer
Characterized by Extra-Articular involvement
of disease
Specifically the small and medium vessel arteries
similar to polyarteritis nodosa
Correlated to high RF levels and low
complement at onset of RV development;
indicating uncontrolled RA disease as a risk
factor2
Anecdotal evidence that viral infections and
drug reactions can precipitate RV occurrence in
RA patients3
DISEASE MANIFESTATIONS
Cutaneous Manifestations secondary
to vascular compromise (90% of RV
patients evidence this)4
Digital ischemia to fingers and toes
Cutaneous ulcers resulting from
obstruction of superficial and medium
vessels
Nail fold infarcts
Nerve Infarction (involves vasa
vasorum) causing mononeuritis
multiplex foot and wrist drop
Associated w/ neuropathy characterized
by numbness, burning, pain that precedes
muscle weakness, paralysis, and wasting
Ocular Scleritis
Non specific signs: Fever, Weight Loss
Source: Up to Date
INVOLVEMENT OF LARGE
ARTERIES
Classically, disease often limited
to small and medium arteries;
case reports of large artery
involvement exist
Bowel6
Renal
Brain (CVA’s)
Coronary Vasculitis (rare)5
Focus back to Ms. R:
Extensive CVA w/o other leading
cause (MCA distribution)
Hematuric evidence of possible
Renal involvement
GG pulmonary opacities can be
seen w/ pulmonary vasculitis
Large cecal perforation w/ bx
proven vasculitic involvement
CTA-Head +CTA Chest
Of Ms. R
DIAGNOSIS OF RV
Fibrinoid Necrosis
in vessel wall
Source: Up to Date
Evidence gathered from:
H&P: Suspect RV in any RA patient w/ fevers, weight
loss, skin ulcerations, necrotic digits, or sx of sensory
or motor nerve dysfxn
Labwork: specifically elevated RF7, low complement,
elevated ESR, elevated Anti-CCP (citrullinated
peptides) high odds ratio for possible RV in a
person w/ h/o RA
Keep in Mind: No definitive Lab dx of RV
Imaging: Angiogram rarely useful as majority of
vessels involved are medium (below image
resolution); findings(segmental narrowing) are nonspecific to RV
Full Thickness Skin Biopsy: As above, would show
evidence of fibrinoid necrosis of vessels
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC
CONSIDERATIONS
Cryoglobulinemia (Rx w/ Plex as opposed to
immunosuppression Rx of RV)7
Presents w/ palpable purpura, cutaneous ulcers, myalgias
Usually RF positive
Small vessel vasculitis of skin(purpura, pustules) usually
not seen in RV as in Cryoglobulinemia
Polyartertis Nodosa (nearly indistinguishable from
RV); key is clinical features, i.e. pt w/ strong hx of RA
more likely has RV rather than PN
ANCA Vasculitides: Also RF positive
Wegener’s, Churg Strauss, Microscopic Polyangiitis
Vasculitis-like Syndromes
Thrombo-embolic phenomenon (cholesterol emboli)
Infectious Endocarditis (fever, skin lesions, active urine
sediment)
TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID
VASCULITIS
Differs based on extent of involvement:
Cutaneous vs. Systemic8
Cutaneous Involvement
Isolated Nailfold Infarctions: secondary to low grade small
vessel vasculitis symptomatic Rx, low risk of progression
to systemic vasculitis
Leg ulcerations: Rx ~venous stasis, i.e. wet to moist saline
dressings, compression bandages, hydrogel occlusive
dressings; Higher assocation w/ systemic RV
Systemic RV
High Dose Glucocorticoids (1-3 days of Solumedrol
1gram/day) transition to PO Prednisone
Cytotoxic agent (e.g. Cyclophosphamide); Achieves disease
remission; Alt: MTX, Azathoprione, TNF inhibitors
REFERENCES
1. Voskuyl AE et al. Factors associated with the development of vasculitis in
rheumatoid arthritis: results of a case-control study. Ann Rheum Dis. 1996; 55:190
2. Scott DG et al. Systemic Rheumatoid Arthritis: a clinical and laboratory study of
50 cases. Medicine(Baltimore) 1981; 60:288-290
3. Iyngkaran P et al. Rheumatoid vasculitis following influenza vaccination. Rheum.
2003; 42: 907-909
4. Sayah A et al. Rheumatoid Arthritis: A review of cutaneous manifestations. J Am
Acad Dermatol. 2005; 53: 191-193
5. vanl Albada-Kuipers et al. Coronary arteritis complicating rheumatoid arthritis.
Ann Rheum Dis. 1986; 45:963-968
6. Pagnoux C et al. Presentation and outcome of gastrointestinal involvement in
systemic necrotizing vasculitides: analysis of 62 patients with polyarteritis nodosa,
microscopic polyangiitis, wegener granulomatosis, churg-strauss syndrome, or
rheumatoid-associated vasculitis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2005; 84:115-116
7. Geirsson AJ et al. Clinical and serological features of severe vasculitis in
rheumatoid arthritis: A clinicopathologic and prognostic study of thirty-two patients.
Arhtritis Rheum. 1995; 55:190-193
8. Abel T et al. Rheumatoid Vasculitis: effect of cyclophosphamide on the clinical
course and levels of circulating immune complexes. Ann Internal Medicine. 1980;
93:407-408
APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION!
Special Thanks to my Med U team:
Eric Edwards, Andy Mcwilliams, Chris Sayed,
Ross, Tim and Damon, Crystal, Eric Allman, and
Paul Dombrower aka Master P