Carpal tunnel syndrome in rheumatic diseases
The article presents a review of the epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis of the carpal tunnel syndrome in various rheumatic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, gout, systemic scleroderma, polymyalgia rheumatica. We also present our own data showing the prevalence of median nerve lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (15 % of 183 patients). The most characteristic clinical feature was the presence of hy- poestesia in the area supplied by the affected nerve. All patients with the carpal tunnel syndrome demonstrated neuropathic pain features (numbness, tingling and burning).