[Infectious and neoplastic complications in rheumatoid arthritis]

Three cases are reported of rheumatic arthritis protracted over several decades, with reduced immunobiological resistance, who developed infectious arthritis, a syndrome with urticaria and angio-edematous signs and increased monoclonal IgM synthesis, and Hodgkin's disease. The discussion covers the manifold pathogenesis, the common and simultaneous effect of constitutional, local factors of the development of the disease, related to the generally reduced resistance of the organism, and the therapeutical moments (corticosteroids, immunosuppressives); further the establishment of therapeutical measures in the interest of the prevention of the complications mentioned.