RESEARCH - Pulmonary involvement in RA

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Rheumatology International

Issue: Volume 25, Number 6

Date: September 2005

Pages: 429 - 435

Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis

Ayhan Bilgici1 , H. Ulusoy1, O. Kuru1, Ç. Çelenk2, M. Ünsal3 and M.

Abstract The primary objective of this investigation was to assess

the relationships between clinical characteristics, lung involvement, and

frequency of pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Using

high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests

(PFT), we prospectively evaluated 52 patients with RA (eight males and 44

females, mean age 53.6 years). The HRCT was abnormal in 35 patients (67.3%),

the most frequent abnormalities being reticulonodular patterns, which were

found in 22 patients (62.9%), ground-glass attenuation (20%), and

bronchiectasis (17%). In this group of patients, PFT results were normal in

13 patients (37%). Titers of rheumatoid factor and erythrocyte sedimentation

rate were significantly higher in abnormal HRCT presence. Higher Larsens

score, advanced age, and severe disease were significant risk factors for

lung involvement (p<0.001, p<0.01, and p<0.01, respectively) and are

suggested by our data to be statistically significant predictors of lung

involvement in RA.

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