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 hypoestesia in the area supplied by the affected nerve. All patients with the carpal tunnel syndrome demonstrated neuropathic pain features (numbness, tingling and burning).