The authors present an account on syndromes caused by extraarticular inflammatory changes of the blood vessels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most serious one among them is systemic rheumatoid vasculitis. It threatens the subset of RA with a defined predisposition. The main manifestations comprise fatigue, loss of body weight, dermal changes (incl. acral isch aemia) and mononeuritis multiplex. The diagnosis is supported by bioptic evidence of fibrinoid necrosis in the active stage of the disease. Early intensive therapy (the basis is IV pulsed cyclophosphamide treatment) improves the prognosis quoad vitam and reduces the risk of relapses. The review includes basic information on leukocytoclastic vasculitis in RA, rheumatoid aortitis and digital vasculitis in RA.

        Key words: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic rheumatoid vasculitis, leucocytoclastic vasculitis,