Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated disease involving chronic low-grade inflammation that may progressively lead to joint destruction, deformity, disability and even death. Despite its predominant osteoarticular and periarticular manifestations, RA is a systemic disease often associated with cutaneous and organ-specific extra-articular manifestations (EAM). Despite the fact that EAM have been studied in numerous RA cohorts, there is no uniformity in their definition or classification. This paper reviews current knowledge about EAM in terms of frequency, clinical aspects and current therapeutic approaches. In an initial attempt at a classification, we separated EAM from RA co-morbidities and from general, constitutional manifestations of systemic inflammation. Moreover, we distinguished EAM into cutaneous and visceral forms, both severe and not severe. In aggregated data from 12 large RA cohorts, patients with EAM, especially the severe forms, were found to have greater co-morbidity and mortality than patients without EAM. Understanding the complexity of EAM and their management remains a challenge for clinicians, especially since the effectiveness of drug therapy on EAM has not been systematically evaluated in randomized clinical trials. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; Extra-articular manifestation; Co-morbidities; Classification; Incidence/rate; Vasculitides; Amyloidosis; Felty's syndrome

Autore Pugliese

• Vacca Angelo , Perosa Federico , Prete Marcella , Racanelli Vito

Tutti gli autori

• VACCA A.;PEROSA F.;DAMMACCO F.;PRETE M.;RACANELLI V.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2011

ISSN

1568-9972

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

62

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

69

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile