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Seventy-five patients with suspected rheumatic diseases underwent intraarterial DSA of the hand arteries. In 81% of the patients we were able to establish the diagnosis of vasculitis according to angiographic criteria. Neither clinical nor chemical or immunological features allowed the diagnosis of an inflammatory disease of joint and perivascular tissue at this time. However, histological examination and immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the angiographic findings and showed signs of an immune complex vasculitis. A strong predictor for an abnormal angiogram of the hand arteries is the presence of Sicca's and Raynaud's Syndrome in addition to rheumatoid joint pain.

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