High resolution computed tomography of the lungs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Pulmonary involvement is one of the most common extra-articular manifestati ons of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this prospective study was to assess pulmonary involvement with high resolution computerized tomography ( HRCT) in lifelong nonsmoking patients with RA. Twenty-six female and eight male patients with a mean age of 45.26 +/- 11.6 years and without any evide nce or symptoms of a respiratory disease were included in the study. Data w ere obtained regarding duration of disease, clinical symptoms and disease a ctivity parameters. Standard chest roentgenographs, pulmonary function test s (PFT) and HRCT were performed. PFT was abnormal in eight (23.5%) and HRCT was abnormal in 23 patients (68%). The most frequent abnormalities obtaine d on HRCT were interstitial involvement including septal and peribronchial thickening and fibronodular infiltration, which were found in 23 patients, and bronchiectasis was found in nine patients. Using a highly sensitive tec hnique such as HRCT the incidence of pulmonary abnormalities in asymptomati c rheumatoid patients may be much higher than previously reported.