Aim of the study. Evaluation of treatment adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and comorbidity.Materials and methods. One hundred thirty-two women (mean age: 55.5 ± 10.5 years) with proven RA (mean duration of disease: 10.2 [4; 14] years) were included in this study. Patients with moderate and high disease activity were prevalent (average DAS28: 5.0 [4.3; 5.8]). All patients had comorbidities. All patients underwent clinical examination, laboratory evaluation and imaging. Functional capacity was assessed using the Steinbroker classification (functional class — FC) and Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Pain severity was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS). Patients’ social status was assessed. Baseline adherence to treatment was evaluated using two questionnaires. Morisky-Green questionnaire was used to evaluate general adherence to treatment among 132 (100%) patients. Quantitative evaluation of treatment adherence was performed in 82 (62.1%) patients using N.A. Nikolaev questionnaire.Results. Analysis of adherence to treatment as assessed by Morisky-Green questionnaire has established that 68 (52.3%) of patients are non-adherent to treatment. Low treatment adherence as assessed by Nikolaev questionnaire was found in 33 (40.3%) of patients. Lifestyle modification was characterized by lowest adherence. Young age, lower duration of disease and lower income were predictive of higher adherence to treatment. Non-adherent patients had higher RA activity index and lower functional capacity.Conclusion. Simultaneous use of several methods to assess treatment adherence is a reasonable way to get more information about the patient and to implement therapy as planned. Evaluation of baseline adherence to treatment among patients with rheumatoid arthritis allows to develop an optimal plan for follow-up and treatment control.

The article presents a clinical case of a rare pathology. The patient for several years visited various specialists. In connection with a similar clinical picture, multi-organ damage, differential diagnosis was performed between systemic vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis) and scarring pemphigoid.The mucous membrane of the mouth and nose is involved in the pathological process with granulomatosis with polyangiitis in the form of ulcerative defects, which subsequently lead to deformation of the nose. The danger with this systemic vasculitis is renal damage with the development of nephritis, renal failure. With scarring pemphigoid, eye damage is typical. In granulomatosis with polyangiitis, damage to the organ of vision is also sometimes possible, but mainly in the form of an orbit pseudotumor. Despite the fact that treatment for both forms of pathology involves the use of glucocorticoids and cytostatics, with a scarring pemphigoid, the main care is provided by dermatologists and ophthalmologists, while the diagnosis and treatment of systemic vasculitis is the task of rheumatologists. One of the criteria for a scarring pemphigoid is loss of vision. However, in this case, it was possible to establish a diagnosis, obtain the first positive results of therapy before the patient shows signs of disability. So, there is a hope for the possibility of preserving vision and a favorable outcome. The rarity of the disease and its poor knowledge, difficulties in diagnosis and the absence of certain standards of therapy, this diagnosis requires more attention from the specialists.