Rheumatoid Arthritis: Mat C

Albrecht J, Atzeni F, Baldini C, Bombardieri S, Dalakas MC, Demirkesen C, Yazici H, Mat C, Werth VP, Sarzi-Puttini P. · Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. · Clin Exp Rheumatol. · Pubmed #16466625 No free full text.

Abstract: This paper focuses on skin manifestations that can be observed in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren syndrome (SS), dermatomyositis (DM) and Behçet syndrome (BS). In RA the most widely recognized skin lesion is the rheumatoid nodule. Other cutaneous manifestations can be observed either non-specific or related to the disease itself and/or to the commonly used drugs. Cutaneous manifestations are considered one of the most typical extraglandular features of primary SS, generally they are distinguished in vasculitic and non vasculitic lesions. Among non-vasculitc lesions, skin dryness (xerosis) has been shown to be very common in pSS while vasculitis lesions include typically flat and palpable purpura and urticarial vasculits. In DM the skin manifestations are also frequent and include a heliotrope rash (blue-purple discoloration) on the upper eyelids with edema, a flat red rash on the face and upper trunk, and erythema of the knuckles with a raised violaceous scaly eruption (Gottron rash). The most frequent mucocutaneous finding in BS is aphthous stomatitis which can not usually be differentiated from idiopatic reccurrent aphthous stomatitis on clinical grounds. The most typical skin manifestations are nodular lesions, which are commonly seen in BS and may be due to panniculitis [erythema nodosum (EN)-like lesions] or superficial thrombophlebitis.

Diri E, Mat C, Hamuryudan V, Yurdakul S, Hizli N, Yazici H. · Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatic Diseases Division, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA. · Ann Rheum Dis. · Pubmed #11602484 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of acneiform skin lesions (comedones, papules, and pustules) in patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS) with arthritis. METHODS: Study groups included 44 patients with BS with arthritis (32 men, 12 women, mean (SD) age 37.8 (8.9)), 42 patients with BS without arthritis (31 men, 11 women, mean age 35.5 (6.4)), 21 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (five men, 16 women, mean age 48.8 (14)), and 33 healthy volunteers (28 men, five women, mean age 40.1 (8.1)). All probands and controls were examined by a rheumatologist and a dermatologist, in a prospective and masked protocol. An ophthalmological evaluation was performed if necessary. Skin lesions, including comedones, papules, and pustules, were counted and scored as 0: absent, 1: 1-5, 2: 6-10, 3: 11-15, 4: 16-20, and 5: >20. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference between the four groups in the prevalence of comedones, the number of papules and pustules was significantly higher in patients with BS with arthritis (p=0.0037 for papules and p<0.0001 for pustules) than in the remaining three groups. CONCLUSION: Acneiform skin lesions (papules and pustules) seem to be more frequent in patients with BS with arthritis. This suggest that the arthritis seen in BS may possibly be related to acne associated arthritis.