[Generalized septic infections in rheumatoid arthritis. Study of autopsy material]

In the randomized autopsy material of 161 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a letal, generalized septic infection (GSI) was observed in 22 cases (13.66%). The GSI was accompanied by a pyarthros in 12 (7.45%) and no pyarthros in 10 (6.21%) cases. The clinical parameters of 22 septic RA patients were compared with 139 age and sex matched RA patients without GSI. The average age of septic patients decreased (p < 0.02), with low serum electrophoretic b-globulin level (p < 0.04), and high Waaler-Rose (p < 0.02) and Latex level (p < 0.004). The clinical parameters of 22 septic patients were compared with 76 age and sex matched RA patients without sepsis, vasculitis, or generalized secondary amyloidosis (GSA), and/or miliary epitheloid granulomas of tuberculous type (mT). The differences between the two groups of patients were the same, with a statistically more pronounced age difference (p < 0.005). 29 out of 161 patients (18.01 %) suffered from a clinically manifest diabetes mellitus (in 6 patients accompanied by sepsis), and 11 (6.83 %) from a clinically latent diabetes mellitus (in 2 patients accompanied by sepsis). There was no significant relationship between sepsis and manifest diabetes mellitus. The controlled and treated diabetes mellitus does not influence the frequency of lethal sepsis. Significant correlations were found between sepsis and latent diabetes mellitus (based on the histological detection of amyloid deposition localized to the islets of Langerhans (p < 0.02). 34 out of 161 patients (21.12%) suffered from a generalized secondary amyloidosis (in 3 patients accompanied by sepsis). There was no significant relationship between sepsis and generalized secondary amyloidosis. The thickness of adrenal cortex represents the effect of steroid therapy. Critical random check, using the Mann-Whitney tests, supports significance relationship between the adrenal cortex atrophy and fatal sepsis (p < 0.010). The follicular lymphoid depletion in the spleen represents the effect of immunosuppressive therapy. The size of lympho-follicles decreased significantly in sepsis (p < 0.004). The long term corticosteroid therapy and immunosuppressive represent a potential danger for sepsis.