[Occurrence of subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Croatia]

The subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules (RN) have been recognized by the American Rheumatism Association, both in 1958 and in 1987, as one of the diagnostic criteria (ARA criteria) among other rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms. The aim of this research has been both to provide the incidence of occurrence of RN in patients with RA in Croatia and to determine its significance in making the RA diagnose. The test group comprised 233 patients (182 women and 51 men) with RA, their average age being 48.3 years in the range of 18 to 77. Both the anamnesis and the clinical examination have determined the occurrence of RN in 54 (23.2%) of 233 patients. The range of occurrences was more evident in men (31.4%) than in women (20.8%), though this difference was statistically irrelevant. The most common localization of benign rheumatoid nodules was the exterior side of elbow and PIP hand joints. The obtained results prove that the incidence of RN in our tested patients with RA can be compared with those of the earlier researches done in Croatia (18.1% Jajić, Vlak; 20-25% Jajić), as well as with those obtained in the western European countries (20% Doherty, George; 25% Ziff; 20-25% Miehle; 21% Wolf et al.).