AID: To investigate the role of suprasegmental (anxious disorders) and segmental vegetative disorders (dysfunction of neuromuscular transmission and cutaneous microcirculation) in pathogenesis of muscular syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
MMPI, Beck's questionnaire, Spilberger's test were used in experimental-psychological assessment of RA patients' personality profile. A total of 60 healthy subjects and 340 RA patients were examined. Segmental vegetative disorders were studied by excitability of hand muscles (Prognoz-6 device) and cutaneous microcirculation (doppler flowmetry).
RA patients showed suprasegmental disorders manifesting as frequent anxious disturbances (95%). Dysfunction of the segmental part of the autonomic nervous system was represented by various changes in excitability of hand muscles in response to weak currents, by abnormal regulation of cutaneous microcirculation.
Neuromuscular and microcirculation disturbances participate in development of RA muscular syndrome. This is confirmed by a positive correlation coefficient. There was also a negative correlation between suprasegmental and segmental disorders.