Which types of vasculitis occur in Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Vasculitis most commonly occurs in RA patients with longstanding, poorly treated disease, significant joint involvement, high-titer RF, and nodules. The types of vasculitis are:
• Leukocytoclastic vasculitis —usually presents as palpable purpura and results from inflammation of postcapillary venules.
• Small arteriolar vasculitis —presents as small infarcts of digital pulp/nailfolds (rarely gangrene) and frequently is associated with a mild distal sensory neuropathy caused by vasculitis of the vasa nervorum.
• Medium-vessel vasculitis —can resemble polyarteritis nodosa with visceral arteritis, mononeuritis multiplex, and livedo reticularis.
• Pyoderma gangrenosum
