tacrolimus and Rheumatoid-Vasculitis

A 55-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented hyperkeratotic erythematous papules with crusts or blisters on his limbs and buttocks. A histological study showed acquired reactive perforating collagenosis. Soon, skin lesions changed to umbilicated lesions with black necrosis, and the scar from his skin biopsy ulcerated with induration due to rheumatoid vasculitis. Systemic corticosteroids and tacrolimus administration resolved the RA and skin lesions. Rheumatoid vasculitis with acquired reactive perforating collagenosis has not been reported previously.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Antirheumatic Agents; Collagen Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rheumatoid Vasculitis; Skin; Tacrolimus

Rheumatoid vasculitis is a rare, but most serious extra-articular complications of long-standing, seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Vasculitis of hepatic artery is an extremely rare but severe manifestation of rheumatoid vasculitis. A 72-year-old woman who presented with polyarthralgia for 2 months was diagnosed with early RA. Since she had manifestations of livedo reticularis, and liver dysfunction which was atypical for RA patients, a percutaneous needle liver biopsy was performed revealing arteritis of a medium-sized hepatic artery. Extensive investigations did not reveal evidences of other systemic causes such as malignancy or systemic vasculitis. The patient was diagnosed with rheumatoid vasculitis involving hepatic arteries based on Bacon and Scott criteria for rheumatoid vasculitis. With high dose corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide induction and methotrexate and tacrolimus maintenance treatment, she was successfully recovered. Association of rheumatoid vasculitis at very early stages of the disease may represent an early aggressive form of RA.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Aged; Arthralgia; Biopsy, Needle; Cyclophosphamide; Female; Hepatic Artery; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Methotrexate; Rheumatoid Vasculitis; Tacrolimus