Page 56 - 5. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Nerve decompression

▪ Rheumatoid synovitis and pannus may compress or invade adjacent structures

(including the spinal cord and peripheral nerves), resulting in myelopathy,

radiculopathy, and entrapment neuropathies.

▪ Rheumatoid vasculitis may cause ischemia, infarction, or bleeding; these may

ultimately result in transient ischemic attacks (TIA), stroke, quadriplegia, or

paraparesis. With peripheral nervous system involvement due to vasculitis, there may

be multiple nerve dysfunction (mononeuritis multiplex) or a more indolent

polyneuropathy