Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-63-1-87

Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Clinical and Electrodiagnostic Study of 70 Consecutive Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Requests for reprints should be addressed to Armin E. Good, M.D., Veterans Administration Hospital,
2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48105.

Excerpt

As far back as the mid-nineteenth century, authors dealing with rheumatoid arthritis have commented upon associated symptoms suggesting neurologic disease (1). Features suggestive of peripheral neuropathy, in particular, have included paresthesias, radiating pains, vasomotor dysfunction, edema, and weakness. Histopathological changes in the peripheral nervous system have been described (2, 3). Objective signs, however, of peripheral neuropathy have been rare indeed in any unselected series of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (4, 5). Thus, in neurological circles, rheumatoid neuropathy has not received recognition as an entity (6). Since the introduction of corticosteroids, there has been considerable interest in cases of rheumatoid arthritis

This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.

Acknowledgment

We are indebted to Dr. Saul R. Kelson and the Willy's Unit, Local 12, UAW-CIO Diagnostic Clinic, Toledo, Ohio, for assistance in procuring control patients.

Summario in Interlingua

Esseva interprendite un studio prospective pro neuropathia peripheric in 70 consecutive patientes hospitalisate con definite o classic arthritis rheumatoidee. Un examine neurologic standard esseva effectuate in omne le casos e etiam in 54 normal subjectos de controlo. Pro omnes pertinente datos anamnestic esseva obtenite. Le velocitates de conduction motori pro areas peronee esseva determinate in 96 nervos de 55 del patientes rheumatoidee e in 85 nervos de 46 hospitalisate patientes de controlo. Le patientes rheumatoidee esseva pretestate pro diabete mellite per determinationes de sucro del sanguine duo horas post prandio e, quando indicate, per tests de tolerantia pro glucosa oral.

Un excesso de positive constatationes periphero-neurologic esseva registrate in le patientes rheumatoidee, evidente quando le gruppo esseva restringite a subjectos ambulatori sin diabete e sin altere complicationes pathologic. Le valores medie del velocitate de conduction peronee in le patientes rheumatoidee e in le subjectos de controlo esseva 43,1 e 49,6 metros per secunda, respectivemente. Esseva constatate que iste differentia es statisticamente significative al nivello de 0,0005.

Le anormal constatationes clinic e electrodiagnostic se monstrava positivemente correlationate con le etate del patientes, sed nulle grado significative de correlation esseva apparente con le duration de arthritis, le activitate de arthritis in articulationes vicin, e le uso de pharmacos, incluse corticosteroides. Un tertio del patientes rheumatoidee habeva franc o latente diabete mellite, sed le anormalitates neurologic in iste gruppo non differeva significativemente ab illos in le remanente patientes quando correctiones esseva facite pro differentias de etate.

Nostre constatationes forni evidentia additional in supporto del these que un diffuse neuropathia peripheric de non-cognoscite pathogenese es communmente associate con arthritis rheumatoidee.

Article and Author Information

From the Medical Service and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Departments of Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
This study was supported in part by grant T1-GM-09 from the U. S. Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md.
- Received December 30, 1964.
- Accepted January 28, 1965.