Abstract
In rheumatoid arthritis, it is well known that changes of cervical spine are frequently seen by x-ray. However, little is known about how the changes occur. In the case described here, an autopsy was performed to investigate this mechanism.
A 58 year-old woman had rheumatoid arthritis since 1943. Treatment with corticosteroid and gold was started and continued until death. x-ray changes appeared in 1970. Neurological findings appeared and subaxial dislocation of the C3 vertebrae was present in x-rays in 1974. In 1984 she died of a respiratory dysfunction.
In synovial joints, proliferation and enlargement of synovium, infiltration of inflammatory cells, or plasma cells and lymphocytes, and pannus were present.
Rheumatoid nodules were found in the vertebral bodies, discs and ligamenta. Infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in the enthesis of ligamenta. The x-ray cahnges of cervical spine depends on these histological findings.
