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Huret B, Boulanger S, Benhamed L, Deprez X, Caparros D. [Pyopneumothorax in rheumatoid arthritis]. Rev Mal Respir 2017; 34:1011-1015. [PMID: 29033202 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints but which frequently includes extra articular effects, including pulmonary nodules, which grow faster under immunosuppressive treatment. CASE REPORT A 74 years old man, with mild asbestosis, underwent treatment with methotrexate then leflunomide (LEF) for seropositive RA. In February 2014, during monitoring of his asbestosis, chest CT scan showed the appearance of thick-walled cavitating lung nodules, with a central and sub pleural distribution. The patient was asymptomatic. Bronchoalveolar lavage excluded infection and tumor. LEF was stopped but in May 2014, the patient was admitted with respiratory infection and a pyopneumothorax which required surgical management. The postoperative course was complicated with a persistent pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS We describe a case of RA complicated by a pyopneumothorax after treatment with LEF. The risk of this complication could be reduced by regular chest imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Huret
- Service de pneumologie, clinique Teissier, 119, avenue Desandrouins, 59300 Valenciennes, France.
| | - S Boulanger
- Service de pneumologie, hôpital Victor-Provo, 17, boulevard Lacordaire, 59100 Roubaix, France
| | - L Benhamed
- Service de chirurgie thoracique, hôpital Jean-Bernard, avenue Desandrouins, 59300 Valenciennes, France
| | - X Deprez
- Service de rhumatologie, hôpital Jean-Bernard, avenue Desandrouins, 59300 Valenciennes, France
| | - D Caparros
- Service de pneumologie, clinique Teissier, 119, avenue Desandrouins, 59300 Valenciennes, France
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pleuropulmonary (PP) involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, limited data are available regarding lung complications in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. The objectives of the current study were to determine the prevalence of PP manifestations and to identify the associated risk factors. METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving 419 patients diagnosed at a tertiary center over a 12.5-year period. The frequency of pulmonary manifestations was recorded based on combined results from chest X-rays, pulmonary function tests, and high-resolution computed tomography scan of the chest. RESULTS: The overall frequency of lung involvement was 25.8%. Pneumonia, bronchiectasis, and interstitial lung disease were the most common abnormalities (36%, 35%, and 23%, respectively). The presence of comorbid illness (odds ratio [OR]: 3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.02–5.1), male gender (OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.3–4.24), and the presence of extra-articular manifestations of RA (ExRA) (OR: 2.35; 95% CI: 0.4–4.01) were predictive of lung involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonia, bronchiectasis, and interstitial lung disease were the most common abnormalities seen in RA patients. The presence of comorbidity, male gender, and ExRA was significantly associated with lung involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer S B Alamoudi
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suzan Mansour Attar
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract
We present a case of 45-year-old female patient with the diagnosis of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, who was admitted to our rheumatology department with exacerbation of the disease. The patient's disease activity score (DAS 28) was 6.9. Physical examination revealed changes in the lung auscultation as a rough breathing sound at the middle and lower lobe of the right lung. Chest X-ray revealed multiple nodular densities in both lungs. Lung biopsy was performed for the diagnosis and revealed necrotizing granulomas with central fibrinoid necrosis surrounded by epithelioid cells. Such a histopathological picture is typical for rheumatoid nodules. Finally the patient was treated with rituximab, with significant improvement.
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Attar SM, Alamoudi OS, Aldabbag AA. Prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic bronchiectasis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia. Ann Thorac Med 2015; 10:176-80. [PMID: 26229559 PMCID: PMC4518347 DOI: 10.4103/1817-1737.160836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Bronchiectasis is a pulmonary manifestation that often occurs in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nevertheless, the prevalence of bronchiectasis in RA patients and predictors of its development/progression remain ill-defined. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of bronchiectasis in a group of RA patients and examine possible clinical or biochemical risk factors that might contribute to its development. METHODS: This was an observational study analyzing 100 RA patients with no pulmonary symptoms selected from King Abdulaziz University Hospital in the Western region of Saudi Arabia from October 2013 to 2014. Demographic, clinical and laboratory information were collected for all patients. Diagnosis was based on the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification system, and disease activity was assessed using the 28-Joint Disease Activity Score Index with C-reactive protein; high-resolution computed tomography chest scans were performed. The prevalence of bronchiectasis was recorded and its association with different risk factors was examined using standard statistical methods. RESULTS: All 100 patients fulfilled the ACR and EULAR classification criteria for RA diagnosis. Their mean age was 51.05 ± 13.5 years, disease duration was 6.19 ± 6.4 years and disease activity index was 4 ± 1.3 (moderate activity). A total of 35 (35%) patients developed bronchiectasis. Notably, we observed significant positive associations of bronchiectasis with age, disease duration and male gender (P < 0.001, P = 0.006, P = 0.028, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic bronchiectasis represents a common complication in moderately active RA patients within the Western Region of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, several predictors of bronchiectasis development were identified, which can contribute to effective risk stratification in RA patients. Further prospective studies are needed to detect the prognosis of asymptomatic bronchiectasis in RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan Mansour Attar
- Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omer Saeed Alamoudi
- Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Bauerova K, Acquaviva A, Ponist S, Gardi C, Vecchio D, Drafi F, Arezzini B, Bezakova L, Kuncirova V, Mihalova D, Nosal R. Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress studied in adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat on systemic and local level affected by pinosylvin and methotrexate and their combination. Autoimmunity 2014; 48:46-56. [PMID: 25046647 DOI: 10.3109/08916934.2014.939268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) is important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its experimental model--adjuvant arthritis (AA). Antioxidants are scarcely studied in autoimmunity, and future analyses are needed to assess its effects in ameliorating these diseases. Although there are studies about antioxidants effects on the course of RA, their role in combination therapy has not yet been studied in detail, especially on extra-articular manifestations of AA. During the 28-d administration of pinosylvin (PIN) in monotherapy and in combination with methotrexate (MTX) to AA rats, we evaluated the impact of the treatment on selected parameters. The experiment included: healthy controls, untreated AA, AA administered 50 mg/kg b.w. of PIN daily p.o., AA administered 0.4 mg/kg b.w. of MTX twice weekly p.o. and AA treated with a combination of PIN+MTX. AA was monitored using: hind paw volume, C-reactive protein, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and F2-isoprostanes in plasma, γ-glutamyltransferase activity in spleen, activity of lipoxygenase (LOX) in lung, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in liver and lung. PIN monotherapy significantly improved the activation of NF-κB in liver and lung, HO-1 expression and activity of LOX in the lung, MCP-1 levels in plasma (on 14th d) and plasmatic levels of F2-isoprostanes. An important contribution of PIN to MTX effect was the reduction of OS (an increase of HO-1 expression in lung and reduction of plasmatic TBARS) and decrease of LOX activity in the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Bauerova
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Slovak Academy of Sciences , Bratislava , Slovak Republic
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Asymptomatic preclinical rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Clin Dev Immunol 2013; 2013:406927. [PMID: 23983768 PMCID: PMC3747456 DOI: 10.1155/2013/406927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 06/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to define high-resolution chest CT (HRCT) and pulmonary function test (PFT) abnormalities capable of identifying asymptomatic, preclinical forms of RA-ILD that may represent precursors to more severe fibrotic lung disease. Methods. We analyzed chest HRCTs in consecutively enrolled RA patients and subsequently classified these individuals as RA-ILD or RA-no ILD based on the presence/absence of ground glass opacification, septal thickening, reticulation, traction bronchiectasis, and/or honeycombing. Coexisting PFT abnormalities (reductions in percent predicted FEV1, FVC, TLC, and/or DLCO) were also used to further characterize occult respiratory defects. Results. 61% (63/103) of RA patients were classified as RA-ILD based on HRCT and PFT abnormalities, while 39% (40/103) were designated as RA-no ILD. 57/63 RA-ILD patients lacked symptoms of significant dyspnea or cough at the time of HRCT and PFT assessment. Compared with RA-no ILD, RA-ILD patients were older and had longer disease duration, higher articular disease activity, and more significant PFT abnormalities. Conclusion. HRCT represents an effective tool to detect occult/asymptomatic ILD that is highly prevalent in our unselected, university-based cohort of RA patients.
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Kambouchner M. [The small airways: normal histology and the main histopathological lesions]. Rev Mal Respir 2013; 30:286-301. [PMID: 23664287 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2012.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Lesions of the small airway are observed in a wide variety of pulmonary conditions, most of which are due to infection, tobacco and connective tissue diseases. They are sometimes isolated or, more often, associated with involvement of other pulmonary structures such as the bronchi, the lung parenchyma and the pleura. The pathological spectrum of the bronchiolar response to injury is relatively limited. Thus, the same lesion is observed in various clinical settings. There is no correlation between the severity of the small airway involvement seen by the pathologist and the clinical and functional manifestations of bronchiolitis. The causes of bronchiolitis may be classified on a clinical basis, on aetiology or on histological appearance, yet no single classification appears to be suitable. An integrated clinical, radiological, functional and histological approach is needed. As they are seen by the pathologist microscopically, small airway lesions may be subdivided into three categories: (1) simple nonspecific lesions (bronchiolitis - cellular, follicular, granulomatous, obliterative, constrictive) that are never exclusively related to one clinical picture, (2) or displaying a more specific pattern like the respiratory bronchiolitis of the smoker or the histolgical changes of asthma, (3) bronchiolar lesions in conditions described as "interstitial", predominantly centrilobular, involving the small airways and the lung parenchyma, and visible radiologically. After recalling the normal histological appearances of the bronchioles, this review describes the diversity of the histopathological lesions of the small airways.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kambouchner
- Service d'anatomie pathologique, hôpital Avicenne, AP-HP, 125, route de Stalingrad, 93009 Bobigny cedex, France.
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Tillie-Leblond I, Crestani B, Perez T, Nunes H. [The distal airways in systemic disease]. Rev Mal Respir 2012; 29:1254-63. [PMID: 23228682 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2012.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The association of inflammatory involvement of the distal airways or bronchiolitis and systemic diseases is essentially observed in Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Bronchiolitis may be mainly cellular in nature, often involving lympho-monocytic cells, and sometimes associated with lymphoid follicles, as in Sjögren's syndrome. It may also, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis, be constrictive, with peribronchiolar fibrosis. This type is associated with a worse prognosis, with possible progression to chronic respiratory insufficiency. The diagnosis of bronchiolitis should be suspected in any atypical form of asthma, or recurrent "bronchitis", and it is essential to look for extrarespiratory symptoms and auto-antibodies to establish the diagnose of systemic disease. The CT appearances coupled with the evaluation of pulmonary function parameters usually lead to the diagnosis. In severe and/or rapidly progressive cases treatment-combining corticosteroids with immunosuppressive drugs may be prescribed, but often with disappointing results. In these cases, lung transplantation should be considered in young patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Tillie-Leblond
- Service de Pneumologie et D'immuno-Allergologie, Hôpital Calmette, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille II et CHRU, France.
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Quezada A, Ramos S, Garcia M, Norambuena X, Pavon D. Lung involvement in rheumatologic diseases in children. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2012; 40:88-91. [PMID: 21684670 DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2011.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Revised: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 02/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung involvement in rheumatologic disease in children has been described with low frequency. OBJECTIVE To describe the lung function test and the radiological findings in a group of paediatric patients with rheumatologic diseases. METHODS Descriptive study. Pulmonary function was evaluated with spirometry, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, blood arterial gas at rest and post exercise in addition to chest radiography and high resolution computed tomography were performed in children with rheumatologic disease. RESULTS Of the fourteen patients studied: 11 were diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), two with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and one with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Mean age: 13 years (range 7-18 years). Nine females, duration of disease 4 ± 2.8 years (range 1-11 years). Four patients had any grade of abnormalities in one or more lung function tests and/or radiological test. CONCLUSION We recommend routine checks of pulmonary function in all patients with rheumatologic diseases even in the absence of respiratory symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Quezada
- University of Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
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Khammassi N, Bayouth A, Abdelhedi H, Balhouane I, Hergli I, Cherif O. [Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy: an unusual manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis]. REVUE DE PNEUMOLOGIE CLINIQUE 2012; 68:54-57. [PMID: 22305139 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneumo.2011.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Revised: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Lung disease is the most frequent extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. It is detected in nearly 50% of patients with this multisystem affection, his knowledge has benefited from advances in computed tomography (CT). The inflammation can affect the pleura, the airways and the lung parenchyma. Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy complicating rheumatoid lung are not usual, and then pose the problem of differential diagnosis. We report a 51-year-old man, with a history of tobacco intoxication, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who developed an interstitial lung disease at stage of fibrosis with mediastinal and hilar adenopathy. We will discuss the clinical, paraclinical, evolutionary and therapeutic particularities case.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Khammassi
- Service de médecine interne, hôpital Razi, La Manouba, Tunisie.
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11
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Youssef AA, Machaly SA, El-Dosoky ME, El-Maghraby NM. Respiratory symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis: relation to pulmonary abnormalities detected by high-resolution CT and pulmonary functional testing. Rheumatol Int 2011; 32:1985-95. [PMID: 21461855 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-011-1905-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/13/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary disease is the most frequent and among the most severe extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, this issue has not been sufficiently studied in Egyptian patients. The objectives of the present study are to investigate the prevalence and types of pulmonary involvement using high-resolution computed tomography scan (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFT) and evaluate the association between respiratory symptoms and RA-lung disease in a group of Egyptian RA patients. Thirty-six RA patients were recruited; 34 females (94.4%) and 2 males (5.6%) with median age of 48.5 years, and none of them was smoker. Detailed medical and drug histories were obtained. PFT, plain X-ray of the chest, and HRCT were performed to all subjects involved. Nearly 64% of RA patients demonstrated abnormalities in PFT and 47% in HRCT. Mixed restrictive and obstructive pattern was the commonest. Nearly two-thirds of our patients reported one or more pulmonary symptom whether dyspnea, cough, wheezing, or phlegm. Dyspnea was the most frequent symptom. Respiratory symptoms were statistically more common in patients with lung disease. The advanced age, high radiological score, and severity of rheumatoid disease were found to be predictive of lung involvement. Among respiratory symptoms, dyspnea and cough were associated with any pulmonary abnormalities. When specific pulmonary abnormalities were considered, only dyspnea was identified as predictor for restriction. For obstructive abnormality, both cough and wheezing provided valid prediction. We conclude that pulmonary involvement is a common manifestation in Egyptian RA patients, and the pattern of involvement is generally consistent with other studies that were performed worldwide. Specific respiratory symptoms could be used as practical, easy, and cost-effective method, especially in older and with more severe RA patients, to discriminate patients in need of subsequent PFT and HRCT imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir A Youssef
- Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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Maâlej S, Kwas H, Fakhfekh R, Limam W, Bourguiba M, Ben Miled K, Ben Kheder A, Yaalaoui S, Drira I. [Etiology and evolution of bronchiectasis in women]. REVUE DE PNEUMOLOGIE CLINIQUE 2011; 67:89-93. [PMID: 21497722 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneumo.2010.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2009] [Revised: 10/05/2010] [Accepted: 10/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although considered as an orphan disease in the developed countries, bronchiectasis are frequent in our country as in all emerging ones. They are most common in women and they represent a frequent cause for consultation and hospitalization in pulmonology departments. PATIENTS AND METHODS To determine the etiology and prognosis of the bronchectasies in women, a retrospective study was performed including 200 patients. RESULTS The mean age was 55.60 years. The diagnosis of bronchiectasis was confirmed in all patients. Bronchiectasis were post-tuberculosis in 56.5% of cases and primitive in 29.5% of cases. The systemic diseases, in particular the rheumatoid polyarthritis represented 3% of cases. The infectious complications and the chronic respiratory failure were more frequent in patients with primitive bronchiectasis than those with secondary bronchiectasis. However this difference was statistically significant only for the chronic respiratory failure. CONCLUSION The bronchiectasis remains frequent in women in our country, as a sequel of pulmonary tuberculosis more than primitive forms. Bronchiectasis secondary to systemic diseases, although rare, must be known.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Maâlej
- Service de pneumologie D, hôpital Abderrahman Mami, Ariana, Tunisia.
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Amital A, Shitrit D, Adir Y. The lung in rheumatoid arthritis. Presse Med 2010; 40:e31-48. [PMID: 21196098 DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2010.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2010] [Revised: 11/05/2010] [Accepted: 11/08/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disease, affecting about 1% of the population. Although a major portion of the disease burden including excess mortality is due to its extra-articular manifestations, the prevalence of RA-associated lung disease is increasing. RA can affect the lung parenchyma, airways, and the pleura; and pulmonary complications are directly responsible for 10 to 20% of all mortality. Even though pulmonary infection and drug toxicity are frequent complications of RA, lung disease directly associated with the underlying RA is more common. The prevalence of a particular complication varies based on the characteristics of the population studied, the definition of lung disease used, and the sensitivity of the clinical investigations employed. An overview of lung disease associated with RA is presented here with an emphasis on parenchymal lung disease, pleural effusion, and airway involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Amital
- Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel
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N'Gabou D, Magdeleinat P, Weber N, Raynaud C, Gossot D, Mechouek A, Stern JB. [Pleuropulmonary involvement leading to bilateral pneumothorax in a patient being treated for rheumatoid arthritis]. Rev Mal Respir 2010; 27:1119-23. [PMID: 21111289 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2010.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2009] [Accepted: 04/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic illness where the development of pulmonary nodule has been described in from 4 to 20% of patients. Symptomatic pleural manifestations occur in 3 to 5% of cases. Rarely, pulmonary nodules become necrotic and lead to pleural complications. Bilateral pneumothorax has only rarely been described. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 64-year-old woman, who had been treated for RA for several years and presented with bilateral pneumothorax secondary to necrobiosis of one or several pulmonary rheumatoid nodules. The management of the pneumothorax was very prolonged and difficult, and despite surgical pleurodesis, the lung did not reexpand fully. Pathological examination of the pleura revealed a noncaseating granulomatous pattern. The diagnosis of a sarcoidosis like disease, possibly induced by anti-TNFα, or of pleural tuberculosis were suggested, but we concluded that the final diagnosis was of pleural rheumatoid involvement. CONCLUSION Bilateral pneumothorax secondary to rheumatoid nodule is a rare entity. The management of such a complication is difficult, particularly in patients who receive an immunosuppressant regimen. A granulomatous pattern has been described rarely in the pleural tissue of these patients. Specific RA pleural involvement has to be taken in consideration when other diagnoses are eliminated, especially tuberculosis or sarcoidosis-like disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- D N'Gabou
- Département thoracique, institut mutualiste Montsouris, 42, boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris, France
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