RHEUMATOID VASCULITIS PRESENTING AS APPENDICITIS

Appendicitis was diagnosed in a 38-year-old-patient with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Despite appendectomy the patient's clinical cond ition deteriorated. Thorough microscopical evaluation of the pathologi cal anatomical specimens from the appendix made possible a diagnosis o f necrotizing vasculitis. The systemic nature of the vasculitis was co nfirmed with a muscle biopsy. A complete remission was induced with im munosuppressive treatment. The case exemplifies a rare but serious man ifestation of rheumatoid vasculitis.