Beyond the joints: cutaneous manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29176/2590843X.2055Keywords:
Arthritis, rheumatoid, Autoimmune diseases, Methotrexate, Rheumatoid nodule, Rheumatoid vasculitis, Rituximab, Skin manifestationsAbstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and damage, often accompanied by extra-articular manifestations. The skin is frequently involved in severe cases of RA. This case describes a 61-year-old woman with a long-standing, poorly controlled rheumatoid arthritis presenting multiple painful skin lesions, including ulcers and plaques, on her hands, elbows, feet, and thighs. Skin biopsies revealed small vessel vasculitis and neutrophilic infiltration, leading to a diagnosis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Treatment with methotrexate and rituximab showed positive results. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with both genetic and environmental factors, with smoking being a key environmental risk. Dermatological manifestations, including rheumatoid nodules, neutrophilic dermatoses, and vasculitis, can indicate disease severity and guide treatment.
Author Biographies
Maria Camila Marin Murillo, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
Residente de Dermatología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia.
María Daniela Polanía-Tovar, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
Dermatóloga, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
Isabel Cristina Cuellar Ríos, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
Jefe, Unidad de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio. Coordinadora, posgrado de Dermatología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Camila Marin Murillo, María Daniela Polanía-Tovar, Isabel Cristina Cuellar Ríos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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