[Vasculitic polyneuropathy as a complication in chronic polyarthritis]

Polyneuropathy due to vasculitis in connection with rheumatoid arthritis is a rare complication of the disease. Special investigations can help us to distinguish between a peripheral sensory-neuropathy with a good prognosis, the neuropathy of the autonomous nervous system and the severe form of mononeuritis multiplex. The bad prognosis of this form is due to the diffuse vasculitis of internal organs. We describe 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and different forms of vasculitis. The differential diagnosis, therapy and prognosis are described in detail.