Generalized vasculopathy and finger blood flow abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis

Resting blood flow, spontaneous variations of resting blood flow and postischemic peak flow of the fingers, measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, were reduced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 39) as compared to normals (n = 18). Resting blood flow and postischemic peak flow were reduced only in patients without skin vessel wall immune complex (IC) deposits, whereas spontaneous variations of resting blood flow were found to be reduced in patients with IC deposits. However, after inducing sympathicolysis, postischemic peak flow was reduced in both groups. These findings were consistent with the presence of organic lesions of the finger arteries in both groups associated with additional functional vasospasm in patients without complex deposits, that in the other group may have been counteracted by the presence of IC deposits.