Thrombotic events in inflammatory rheumatological diseases

Active inflammation is a prothrombotic state characterized by the activation of procoagulant
mechanisms and endothelial cells. In fact, the correlation between antiphospholipid antibodies in
systemic lupus erythematosus and the predisposition to venous and arterial thrombosis is known. It
thus appears that thrombotic events are associated with disease activity and/or inflammation in many
of the inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The present study is a review where we look for main
pathogenetic features and clinical aspects of thrombosis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, systemic
lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, Sjogren's syndrome and
dermatomyositis/polymyositis, highlighting also the appropriate therapeutic approaches in each case.
It therefore appears that autoimmune rheumatological diseases are associated with an increased
thrombotic risk and predisposition to arterial and venous thrombosis, greater than the general
population.