[A case of malignant rheumatoid arthritis with severe peripheral neuropathy]

A 72-year-old woman of definite type of malignant rheumatoid arthritis (MRA) with severe peripheral neuropathy. She has often noted pain of both shoulders or knee joints since some years ago. At the age of 71, she noticed numbness of the feet with pain and swelling of knee joints. She was diagnosed as definite type of rheumatoid arthritis by one podiatrist. Although she took some medications, she subsequently developed general fatigue, appetite loss, exacerbation of arthritis, drop feet and hands with prominent coldness. She was admitted to our hospital on March 22, 1985. On examination, she revealed purpura, decubitis, heart murmur, arthritis of knee joints, and fingers necrosis with skin ulcer. She had severe muscle weakness, and wasting of four limbs. Moderate impairment of all-modality sensations were noted in all extremities. Distal involvement was greater than proximal. Laboratory data during administration of prednisolone (60 mg/day) were as follows: glucose in urine, 2+; occult blood in urine, 1+; white blood cells count, 18600 with 92% polymorphonuclear leukocytes; erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 60 mm in an hour; CRP, 14.62 mg/dl (normal 0.5 greater than); RA test, 2+; RAHA, 10240; CH50, 10 U/ml (normal 32-42); C3, 37 mg/dl (normal 55-75); C4, 9 mg/dl (normal 15-28); immune complex, 4.4 micrograms/ml (normal 3.0): Chest X-ray film showed cardiomegaly (CTR, 57%). ECG disclosed atrial premature contraction, and echo cardiography suggested epicarditis with aortic valve insufficiency. 99mTc RI angiogram revealed impairment of peripheral circulation. SCV on sural nerve was not elicited. Sural nerve biopsy showed obliterans type of endoarteritis and axonal degeneration with loss of myelinated fiber.