Rheumatic diseases in China.

Prevalence and clinical manifestations of 5 common rheumatic diseases in China are discussed. Systemic lupus erythematosus appears to be more prevalent in Chinese than in Caucasians with possibly different clinical manifestations, in particular less serositis. Rheumatoid arthritis may be less aggressive and seronegative arthridities are less common. Behçet's and aortitis are frequently seen but not temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.