Abstract

MENENDEZ ALEJO, FRANCISCO M.; MEDEROS OVIEDO, ARACELY; MEDINA ARZOLA, JUAN D.  and  FERNANDEZ GONZALEZ, ANA R.. The extraarticular disease in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Rev Cubana Ortop Traumatol [online]. 1996, vol.10, n.2, pp. 153-157. ISSN 1561-3100.

44 adult patients (6 males and 38 females) with diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis from the outpatient department of the "Aleida Fernández Chardiet" General Teaching Hospital in Güines, province of Havana, were studied to know frequency, types, and characteristics of the associated extraarticular disease. Extraarticular disease was found in 68 % of the patients studied. The most frequent manifestations were the reumatoid nodules, anemia, and the carpal tunnel syndrome. No relationship was found between the extraarticular disease and the sex of the patients; however, it was observed a relationship between the polyarticular form of the rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0,001) and the time of evolution of the disease (p < 0,001). The rheumatoid nodules, the sensorial polyneuropathy, and the cardiac manifestations were significantly associated (p < 0,001) to patients with a positive rheumatoid factor.

Keywords : ARTHRITIS RHEUMATOID; ANEMIA; CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME; RHEUMATOID FACTOR..