ENLmedical.com: Conditions And Concerns: Medical Encyclopedia: Rheumatoid lung disease

Rheumatoid lung disease

Causes and Risks:
About 50% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have lung function abnormalities, and up to 25% will have evidence of interstitial lung disease . Pleural thickening, adhesions , and pleural effusions may develop. The risk factors other than rheumatoid arthritis are not known. The incidence is 1 out of 10,000 people. Lung (pulmonary) manifestations rarely occur in the juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis.

Prevention:
There is no known prevention. People with rheumatoid arthritis should consult the health care provider PROMPTLY if breathing difficulty develops.

Symptoms:

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Signs and Tests:
Crackles may be heart when listening to the lungs with a stethoscope ( auscultation ).

A chest X-ray shows abnormalities consistent with rheumatoid lung disease.
An open lung biopsy shows findings consistent with rheumatoid lung disease.
A bronchoscopy with transtracheal biopsy shows findings consistent with rheumatoid lung disease.

Treatment:
Many people have no symptoms. Therefore, treatment is aimed at the underlying disorder and for specific complications resulting from this disorder. Corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive therapy is sometimes indicated.

Prognosis:
The probable outcome is related to the underlying disorder.

Complications:

Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call your health care provider PROMPTLY if you have rheumatoid arthritis and unexplained breathing difficulties occur.

Bronchoscopy is a surgical technique for viewing the interior of the airways. Using sophisticated flexible fiber optic instruments, surgeons are able to explore the trachea, main stem bronchi, and some of the small bronchi. In children, this procedure may be used to remove foreign objects that have been inhaled. In adults, the procedure is most often used to take samples of (biopsy) suspicious lesions and for culturing specific areas in the lung.