[Hematological abnormalities in rheumatic diseases].

Haematological abnormalities are present in 25-50% patients with rheumatic diseases. The most common finding is anaemia of chronic disease which is driven by inflammatory cytokines. Hepcidin plays key role in iron homeostasis. It reduces iron absorption from duodenum and iron release from reticuloendothelial cells. Anaemia of chronic disease could be successfully treated by recombinant erythropoietin in combination with iron supplementation. Various abnormalities can be observed in the leukocyte and platelets counts. Other haematological disturbances are considered as part of autoimmune disease. Prolonged antigen stimulation can induce lymphomagenesis and lymphoma incidence in patients with rheumatic diseases is 5 to 6-fold increased compared to normal population.