RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-SYSTEMIC MANIFESTATION

SUMMARY

1. Eyes: scleritis, episcleritis, sicca syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome (10-15%)
2. Mouth: dry mouth, dental caries
3. Parotid enlargement
4. TMJ crepitus
5. Neck: cervical myelopathy
6. Lungs: pleural effusion, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary rheumatoid nodules, Caplan syndrome (pulmonary rheumatoid nodules & pneumoconiosis), interstitial lung disease
7. Cardiac: pericarditis and myocarditis, rheumatoid nodules on the valves, atherosclerosis
8. Abdomen: hepato-splenomegaly, Felty's syndrome (triad of RA, splenomegaly, leukopenia)
9. Renal: renal-amyloid disease
10. Vasculitis: PAN, nail-fold infarcts, splinter haemorrhages, necrosis with ulceration over the malleoli

11. Skin: rheumatoid nodules over extensor surfaces
12. Nerves: mononeuritis multiplex, carpal/tarsal tunnel syndrome

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].