Rheumatoid Arthritis Associated with Eosinophilia

Five patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis and peripheral eosinophilia ranging from 20% to 89% are described. These patients had clinical and radiological findings of severe, deforming articular disease and a high prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis, pleuritis, and subcutaneous nodules. As a group they had relatively low serum complement, high serum antigammaglobulin, and increased serum IgG, IgG1, lgG3, and IgM levels. These findings may reflect intense immunologic stimulation. In susceptible hosts this stimulus may be able to induce the profound eosinophilia observed.