BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, mostly insidious disease of unknown etiology, the primary manifestation of which is persistent synovitis symmetrically affecting peripheral joints. Cartilaginous injuries and bone corrosions with subsequent changes in articular integrity are the primary marks of the disease. RA is a systemic disease affecting other organs and systems such as skin, heart, lungs, muscles and, less commonly, blood vessels leading to rheumatoid vasculitis. This study aimed at describing an RA case evolving with rheumatoid vasculitis, which is a rare and severe condition. CASE REPORT: Female patient, 61 years old, with RA starting with lower limbs edema, pain, erythema and local heat, and evolving with hard nodules which ulcerated. The gluteus region had erythema in plaques, without pruritus, painless, with nodules similar to those of the legs, which also ulcerated. Moderate pain was controlled with oral tramadol and paracetamol. CONCLUSION: Rheumatoid vasculitis is a severe RA complication which may lead to limb amputation and evolves with moderate pain easily controlled with weak opioids.
Rheumatic fever; Rheumatoid arthritis; Vasculitis
