Immune deposits in the skin of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

The presence of immunoglobulin and complement deposits in cutaneous blood vessels and at the dermal junction was determined in 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Deposits of IgM and C3 were twice as common in the leg than the arm. The deposits were present in 7/14 patients with extraarticular disease and 1/20 patients with articular disease alone. Deposits of IgM were detected at the dermoepidermal junction in 4 patients with RA. All had circulating antinuclear antibodies.