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

Citation
R. Demir et al., High resolution computed tomography of the lungs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, RHEUM INTL, 19(1-2), 1999, pp. 19-22
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Rheumatology,"da verificare
Journal title
RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
ISSN journal
01728172 → ACNP
Volume
19
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
19 - 22
Database
ISI
SICI code
0172-8172(199911/12)19:1-2<19:HRCTOT>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
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.