Rheumatoid lung disease
Rheumatoid lung disease is a group of lung problems related to rheumatoid arthritis. The condition can include:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is a long-term disease. It can also aff...
- Blockage of the small airways (bronchiolitis obliterans)
- Fluid in the chest (pleural effusions)
Pleural effusions
A pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. It makes the right side of the heart work harder than normal.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Lumps in the lungs (nodules)
- Scarring (pulmonary fibrosis)
Pulmonary fibrosis
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of lung disorders in which the lung tissues become inflamed and then damaged.
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Causes
Lung problems are common in rheumatoid arthritis. They often cause no symptoms.
The cause of lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Sometimes, the medicines used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, especially methotrexate, may result in lung disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Skin nodules
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask about your symptoms.
Symptoms depend on the type of lung disease rheumatoid arthritis is causing in the lungs.
The provider may hear crackles (rales) when listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. Or, there may be decreased breath sounds, wheezing, a rubbing sound, or normal breath sounds. When listening to the heart, there may be abnormal heart sounds.
The following tests may show signs of rheumatoid lung disease:
- Chest x-ray
Chest x-ray
A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - CT scan of the chest
CT scan of the chest
A chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Echocardiogram (may show pulmonary hypertension)
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Lung biopsy (bronchoscopic, video-assisted, or open)
Open
An open lung biopsy is surgery to remove a small piece of tissue from the lung. The sample is then examined for cancer, infection, or lung disease....
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Lung function tests
Lung function tests
Pulmonary function tests are a group of tests that measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioning.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Needle inserted into the fluid around the lung (thoracentesis)
Thoracentesis
Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lining of the outside of the lungs (pleura) and the wall of the chest....
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Blood tests for rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a blood test that measures the amount of the RF antibody in the blood.
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Treatment
Many people with this condition have no symptoms. Treatment is aimed at the health problems causing the lung problem and the complications caused by the disorder. Corticosteroids or other medicines that suppress the immune system are sometimes useful.
There is no evidence that pirfenidone or nintedanib work for people with rheumatoid lung disease and fibrosis (like they do for the idiopathic form of the disease).
Outlook (Prognosis)
Outcome is related to the underlying disorder and the type and severity of lung disease. In severe cases, lung transplantation can be considered. This is more common in cases of bronchiolitis obliterans, pulmonary fibrosis, or pulmonary hypertension.
Possible Complications
Rheumatoid lung disease may lead to:
-
Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
Pneumothorax
A collapsed lung occurs when air escapes from the lung. The air then fills the space outside of the lung between the lung and chest wall. This buil...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Pulmonary hypertension
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider right away if you have rheumatoid arthritis and you develop unexplained breathing difficulties.
Reviewed By
Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron, Jr. Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Corte TJ, Wells AU. Connective tissue diseases. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 92.
Yunt ZX, Solomon JJ. Lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2015;41(2):225-236. PMID: PMC4415514 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415514/.
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