Retinal vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis: an angiographic study

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 1990 Mar-Apr;8(2):121-5.

Abstract

The authors studied sixty patients affected by classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to evaluate the possible existence of retinal vasculitis, by employing fluorescein angiography. Retinal vasculitis was found in 18% of the examined patients, even if no clinical and ophthalmoscopic signs of retinal vessel inflammation were present. The authors suggest that the retina should be examined in RA patients, since retinal vasculitis may be asymptomatic at the beginning, but can represent one of the possible extra-articular manifestations of the disease.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / blood
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications*
  • Blood Sedimentation
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retinal Diseases / blood
  • Retinal Diseases / complications*
  • Retinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Rheumatoid Factor / analysis
  • Vasculitis / blood
  • Vasculitis / complications*
  • Vasculitis / diagnosis

Substances

  • Rheumatoid Factor