Pulmonary Disease Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Clinical records of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were reviewed for instances of pulmonary disease which might be ascribed to the pathological process associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty-seven patients met criteria of the American Rheumatism Association for definite rheumatoid arthritis. Diffuse interstitial pneumonitis and subsequent fibrosis of the lungs did occur as a part of the rheumatoid process. Typical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis usually present before pulmonary disease; sometimes they are simultaneous; rarely, pulmonary disease appears first. Initial discernible lesions occur most often in the base of the lungs and roentgenographically appear like pneumonitis. This study showed that pulmonary disease is a rare manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis.