[Pathomorphosis of rheumatic diseases]

Clinico-anatomic analysis of section and biopsy materials (skin, kidneys; synovial membranes of joints, lungs) was performed to study the effect of immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory therapy on the course and morphological manifestations of rheumatic diseases. In rheumatic fever, predominant involvement of valvular endocardium with flaccid asymptomatic course was observed with the lack of vasculitis and myocardial involvement, decreased fatality rate, a shift of fatality and morbility to middle age groups suggesting changes in the epidemiology of the disease and pathomorphosis of this nosological form. In systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, treatment of the disease positively affects its clinical, morphological, and immunological manifestations, i. e. partial pathomorphosis (nosomorphosis) occurs.