[The clinical picture of rheumatoid arthritis--the complex of three independent mechanisms]. / Klinicka slika reumatoidnog artritisa --kompleks triju neovisnih mehanizama.

The assumption of inflamation as the only cause of the complex clinical picture of rheumatoid atrhritis does not correspond to facts. We have found and proven the existence of three seemingly unconnected mechanisms, and only their combination can account for the general clinical picture of rheumatoid arthritis. They are: 1. immunologic synovitis, responsible for pain, swelling and stiffnes; 2. oncological process ("tumorlike proliferation"), responsible for the destruction of joints; 3. Primary necrotizing process, responsible for the (sometimes lethal) destructions in the heart and blood vessels.