Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is common and affects nearly half of patients. It can involve all pulmonary structures. However, interstitial lung disease is the most frequent manifestation and the most significant in terms of prognosis. Diagnosis relies on chest computed tomography, and prognosis depends especially on disease extent and radiological pattern. Management requires multidisciplinary discussion and is based on an individualized strategy combining control of articular disease activity, targeted immunosuppression, and, depending on the clinical course and radiological profile, antifibrotic therapy. Close monitoring for infectious and neoplastic complications is essential.
Schiller et al. (Thu,) studied this question.