Rheumatoid lung disease is a group of lung problems related to rheumatoid arthritis. The condition can include fluid in the chest (pleural effusions), scarring (pulmonary fibrosis), lumps (nodules), and high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
Pulmonary abnormalities are common in rheumatoid arthritis, but they often cause no symptoms. The causes of lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis are unknown. Sometimes the medicines used to treat rheumatoid arthritis may result in lung disease.
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following:
The doctor may hear crackles when listening to the lungs with a stethoscope (auscultation). Or, the patient may have decreased breath sounds, a rubbing sound, or normal breath sounds.
The following tests may show problems consistent with rheumatoid lung disease:
Many people with this condition have no symptoms. Therefore, therapies are aimed at treating the underlying disorder and complications resulting from the disorder. Corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive therapies are sometimes useful.
The outcome is related to the underlying disorder and the type and severity of lung disease.
Call your health care provider PROMPTLY if you have rheumatoid arthritis and you develop unexplained breathing difficulties.
Lung disease - rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid nodules