REVIEW - Lung disease in RA

[Guest guest]

From Current Opinion in Rheumatology

Posted 12 Jun 2008

Carlotta Nannini; Jay H. Ryu; L. Matteson

Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Purpose of Review: To examine the role of lung disease in rheumatoid

arthritis from a clinical, epidemiologic, pathophysiologic, and

therapeutic perspective.

Recent Findings: Lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis is pleomorphic

and has a marked adverse impact on the morbidity and premature

mortality of patients with this disease.

Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of lung

disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis reveal it to be

characterized by more active cellular infiltrates of both T cells and

B cells, as well as other immunologically active cells, including mast

cells, than many of the other forms of interstitial lung disease.

Satisfactory treatment is lacking; available biologic response

modifiers have been reported to have both beneficial and adverse

effects on the lung. Newer approaches targeting cellular immunologic

dysfunction including T-cell-directed and B-cell-directed therapies

hold the promise of reducing lung damage related to the underlying

disease.

Summary: Lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis is a heterogeneous and

oftentimes serious condition, with a profound impact on patient

wellbeing and survival. Advances in the understanding of its etiology

and targeted application of available, as well as development of new,

more specific therapeutics will be of benefit to patients with

rheumatoid arthritis who are suffering from lung disease.

***************************************

Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/573647_1

Not an MD