Capillary Resistance and Skin-Fold Thickness in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Abstract
Capillary resistance and the characteristics of the skin of the dorsum of the hands were studied in 96 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 106 control subjects. It was low in the rheumatoid arthritics not receiving steroid therapy and normal in treated patients. Skin-fold thickness was normal in patients not receiving steroid therapy and reduced in treated patients. A relationship was found between capillary resistance and skin-fold thickness in the controls and untreated patients but not in those on steroids. Transparent skin and purpura occurred much more often in treated patients. It is suggested that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis steroids induce an alteration in the dermal connective tissue, accounting for the frequent occurrence of transparent skin, purpura, and loss of skin-fold thickness.

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