[Blood pressure in arm and finger arteries in rheumatoid arthritis].

The pressure load is critical for vascular wall alteration. Systolic blood pressure was measured by Doppler sonography in the finger and arm arteries of 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and compared to a control group (n = 22) of nearly the same age. The transmitter frequency of the ultrasound probe was 9.6 MHz. In contrast to upper arm arteries the blood pressure values of the radial and ulnar arteries in the forearm and the finger arteries were significantly higher (two-sided test a = 2% or 0.1%) in rheumatoid arthritis.