[Muscles and nerves in rheumatoid arthritis]

The authors report the results of a systematic study of 37 hospitalized cases of rheumatoid arthritis. The neurological and muscular clinical signs are usually discrete. Electrophysiological examination is the basis for a classification in terms of the extent and the intensity of the neuropathy. Clinical and laboratory correlations are established permitting the individualization of a group of patients with severe neuropathy. The histological, morphometric and ultrastructural examination of 12 muscle and nerve biopsies reveal the high incidence of these lesions and the constancy of capillary involvement.