CLINICAL FEATURES, PARACLINICAL FINDINGS, AND ENDOSCOPIC IMAGES OF THE STOMACH AND DUODENUM IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH ANEMIA TREATED IN THAI NGUYEN

Ha Thi Hue Lanh1, Doan Anh Thang2, Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen3, Ha Thanh Tam4, Le Anh Tuấn5
1 Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy
2 Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital
3 Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy,
4 Thai Nguyen Central Hospital
5 Saint Paul General Hospital

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics as well as endoscopic gastric–duodenal lesions, and to analyze the relationship between endoscopic findings, anemia status, and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and anemia treated in Thai Nguyen.


Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 39 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and anemia who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the Department of Rheumatology, Thai Nguyen Central Hospital, and Thai Nguyen A Hospital from July 2024 to June 2025.


Results: The mean age of patients was 61.87 ± 11.25 years. The disease duration of ≤ 2 years accounted for 59%. Most patients had mild anemia (89.7%). The mean number of painful and swollen joints was 10.64 ± 7.20 and 3.92 ± 3.32, respectively. The majority of patients (76.9%) had active or unstable disease activity. All patients presented with endoscopic lesions, with congestion/edema being the most common finding across all sites. Ulcerative lesions were most frequently observed in the duodenal bulb (31.2%), erosions were most common in the antrum (25%), and mucosal atrophy was most often found in the fundus (14.3%). There was a statistically significant association between ulcerative lesions and both the severity of anemia (p = 0.017) and disease activity level (p = 0.007).


Conclusion: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and anemia commonly exhibited unstable disease activity. Gastric–duodenal mucosal lesions on endoscopy were highly prevalent, and ulcerative lesions were significantly associated with both anemia severity and disease activity.

Article Details

References

[1] Lê Thị Thanh Ngà, Hoàng Văn Dũng, Nguyễn Hoài Nam. Đặc điểm tổn thương dạ dày tá tràng ở bệnh nhân viêm khớp dạng thấp có sử dụng glucocorticoid. Tạp chí Y học Việt Nam, 2021; tr. 249–253, doi: https://doi.org/10.51298/vmj.v506i1.1214
[2] Mai Quang Huy. Đặc điểm của hội chứng thiếu máu ở bệnh nhân viêm khớp dạng thấp. Tạp chí Y học lâm sàng, 2022; tr. 80–89. doi: 10.38103/jcmhch.80.9
[3] Nguyễn Văn Tuấn. Nghiên cứu đặc điểm lâm sàng, cận lâm sàng và tình hình điều trị của bệnh nhân viêm khớp dạng thấp tại Bệnh viện Hữu nghị Đa khoa Nghệ An. Tạp chí Y học Việt Nam, 2021; 504(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.51298/vmj.v504i2.953
[4] Phạm Hoàng Quyên. Mô tả đặc điểm lâm sàng bệnh nhân nữ viêm khớp dạng thấp tại phòng khám ngoại trú Bệnh viện Đa khoa tỉnh Hải Dương năm 2021. Tạp chí Y học Việt Nam, 2024; 539(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.51298/vmj.v539i1.9718
[5] Vũ Đình Hùng, Nguyễn Đình Khoa. Bệnh học những bệnh cơ xương khớp thường gặp. Nhà xuất bản Y học, 2021; tr. 103–135.
[6] Abideen MZ. Frequency of Different Types of Anemia in Patients of Rheumatoid Arthritis presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital. Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, 2025; 75(3):459–463.
[7] Sun Y, Liu J, Xin L, et al. Factors influencing the Sharp score of 1057 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and anemia: a retrospective study. Journal of International Medical Research, 2022; 50(3):3000605221088560.
[8] Wilson A, Yu HT, Goodnough LT, et al. Prevalence and outcomes of anemia in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review of the literature. American Journal of Medicine, 2004; 116(Suppl 7A):50s–57s.