Imaging of the pulmonary manifestations of systemic disease

Pleural Diseases in Connective Tissue Diseases

Connective tissue diseases (CTD) are heterogeneous, immune-mediated inflammatory disorders often presenting with multiorgan involvement. With the advent of high-resolution computed tomography, CTD-related pleuritis-pleural thickening and effusion-is now increasingly recognized early in the disease trajectory. The natural history of CTD-related pleural effusions varies from spontaneous resolution to progressive fibrothorax with ventilatory impairment. Treatment of the underlying CTD is necessary to manage the pleural disease. Depending on the degree of symptom burden and physiological insult, specific treatment of pleural disease can include monitoring, repeated aspirations, systemic anti-inflammatory medication, and surgical decortication.

Imaging Approach to Disease of the Pleura

Diseases of pleura are not only common but also have a significant impact on patients' outcomes. While early detection and treatment are imperative in reducing this burden, many pleural entities present similarly, thus posing a diagnostic dilemma for radiologists requiring critical further workup. While chest radiography, CT, and image-guided thoracentesis are primarily utilized as the initial imaging techniques for the workup of pleural diseases, MRI, and FDG-PET/CT are also frequently employed to investigate the root cause of pleural abnormalities. By elucidating the common imaging features of neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious pleural pathologies, clinicians can quickly and easily differentiate the various pleural diseases, rapidly reach the correct diagnosis, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

A dose-dependent beneficial effect of methotrexate on the risk of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objectives

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of different factors, including treatment, on the risk of ILD in the course of RA.

Methods

A total of 109 RA patients were included in the analysis. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of chest was obtained in each patient. Patients were classified as having ILD (ILD group) or not (N-ILD group). The ILD was graded using the semi-quantitative Warrick scale of fibrosis. Warrick extent score (WES) and Warrick severity score (WSS) were calculated separately for each patient, then combined to obtain a global score (WGS).

Results

In univariate analysis the presence of ILD was associated positively with age (P = 5x10^-6) and negatively with MTX treatment (P = 0.0013), mean MTX dose per year of treatment (P = 0.003) and number of DMARDs used (P = 0.046). On multivariate analysis only age and treatment with MTX were independently associated with the presence of ILD. WGS was significantly lower in patients treated with MTX in a dose of ≥15 mg/week (MTX≥15 group) as compared to patients treated with lower doses of MTX (0<MTX<15 group) or not treated with MTX (N-MTX group) (P = 0.04 and P = 0.037, respectively). The ILD prevalence was higher in N-MTX group than in 0<MTX<15 group (P = 0.0036) and MTX≥15 group (0.0007). The difference in ILD prevalence between MTX≥15 and 0<MTX<15 groups was not significant, but the latter group had higher WES (P = 0.044) and trended to have higher WSS and WGS.

Consclusions

We found a beneficial effect of MTX on RA-ILD. Importantly, this effect seems to be dose dependent.

Pulmonary vasculitis

Systemic vasculitides frequently affect the pulmonary vasculature. As the signs and symptoms of pulmonary vasculitis are variable and nonspecific, diagnosis and treatment represent a real challenge. Vasculitides should be given consideration, as these diseases present severe manifestations of rapidly progressing pulmonary disease. Examining other organs usually affected by vasculitides (e.g., the skin and kidneys) and determining autoantibody levels are essential to a better management of the disease. A radiological study would also contribute to establishing a diagnosis. The lungs are commonly involved in small-vessel vasculitis, anti-glomerular basement membrane disease, and vasculitides associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Associated life-threatening diffuse alveolar haemorrhages and irreversible damage to other organs-usually the kidneys-are severe complications that require early diagnosis. Vasculitides are rare diseases that affect multiple organs. An increasing number of treatments-including biological agent-based therapies-requiring cooperation between specialists and centers have become available in the recent years. In the same way, clinicians should be familiar with the complications associated with immunosuppressive therapies.

Pulmonary Vasculitis: Spectrum of Imaging Appearances

Pulmonary vasculitis is a relatively uncommon disorder, usually manifesting as part of systemic vasculitis. Imaging, specifically computed tomography, is often performed in the initial diagnostic workup. Although the findings in vasculitis can be nonspecific, they can provide important clues in the diagnosis, and guide the clinical team toward the right diagnosis. Radiologists must have knowledge of common and uncommon imaging findings in various vasculitides. Also, radiologists should be able to integrate the clinical presentation and laboratory test findings together with imaging features, so as to provide a meaningful differential diagnosis.

Interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: spontaneous and drug induced

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of articular joint structures. RA is a systemic condition that often affects multiple organs, including the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Pulmonary complications of RA are relatively common and include pleural effusion, rheumatoid nodules, bronchiectasis, obliterative bronchiolitis, and opportunistic infections. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common occurrence in patients with RA, and can range in severity from an asymptomatic incidental finding to a rapidly progressing life-threatening event. Usual interstitial pneumonia and non-specific interstitial pneumonia are the two most common patterns, though others have been reported. Various disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs-in particular, methotrexate and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors-have been associated with RA-ILD in numerous case reports and case series, though it is often difficult to distinguish association from causality. Treatment for RA-ILD typically involves the use of high-dose corticosteroids, often in conjunction with alternative immunosuppressant agents such as azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, and outcomes vary widely depending on the initial pattern of lung disease. Additional research into the mechanisms driving RA-ILD is needed to guide future therapy.

Pulmonary affectation of vasculitis

Respiratory tract affectation is frequent in some types of vasculitis, fundamentally in those associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). The clinical, radiological and histopathological presentation is also heterogeneous and conditions the evolution. It is therefore necessary to establish an early diagnosis based on the symptoms because, thanks to new treatments, and despite them being potentially serious diseases, their prognosis has improved considerably in recent years. The present paper updates the diagnosis and the new therapeutic options for pulmonary vasculitis.

Imaging features of the pleuropulmonary manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis: pearls and pitfalls

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common disorder that affects the joints. RA is a systemic disease associated with relatively frequent and variable pleuropulmonary manifestations. This article reviews the common and potentially serious thoracic sequelae in terms of pleural disease, pulmonary nodules, airways disorders, and interstitial disease, as well as pulmonary side effects of antirheumatic medication. An imaging-guided approach to classification of RA-associated lung disease is outlined and the comparative values of different imaging modalities are discussed. An appreciation of current knowledge of epidemiology, pathological correlation, and prognostic implications of different RA-associated lung disease is provided. We highlight importance of considering pertinent differential diagnoses to avoid misdiagnosis, and outline common pitfalls in dealing with pleuropulmonary rheumatoid disease.

Rheumatoid pneumoconiosis (Caplan's syndrome)

In 1953, Caplan described a characteristic radiographic pattern in coal miners with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that was distinct from the typical progressive massive fibrosis pattern of coalworkers' pneumoconiosis. It consists of multiple well-defined rounded nodules on chest X-ray, from about 0.5 to about several centimetres in diameter, distributed throughout the lungs but predominantly at the lung periphery. Lesions appear often in crops, may coalesce and form a larger confluent nodule. Nodules often cavitate or calcify. They typically occur in the setting of pre-existing mild pneumoconiosis, but pneumoconiosis is not a prerequisite. The onset of the nodules is typically sudden, and their course varies thereafter, ranging from regression to progression. Histologically, the nodules have a characteristic appearance and are distinguishable from silicotic nodules or progressive massive fibrosis. Individual susceptibility is considered to play a role in the development of the disease. However, the pathogenetic link between exposure to silica, pneumoconiosis and RA has not been clarified conclusively. This review summarizes history, definition and current knowledge on epidemiology, pathology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and treatment of Caplan's syndrome.

Manifestações intratorácicas das doenças do colágeno na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax

As manifestações intratorácicas das doenças do colágeno são bastante comuns. O padrão e a freqüência de comprometimento dependem do tipo específico de doença do colágeno, que pode envolver um ou vários compartimentos simultaneamente, tais como parênquima, vias aéreas, artérias pulmonares, pleura, e pericárdio. As manifestações mais importantes incluem as pneumonias intersticiais difusas e a hipertensão pulmonar, que em conjunto representam as principais causas de mortalidade e morbidade nesses pacientes. O acometimento pulmonar, pleural e de via aérea pode ser também secundário a terapêutica instituída ou ser decorrente de processos infecciosos bacterianos ou por germes oportunistas, por causa da imunossupressão. Nesta revisão os autores sumarizam as manifestações intratorácicas e o diagnóstico diferencial das principais doenças do colágeno na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax.

Respiratory system involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic-associated systemic vasculitides: clinical, pathological, radiological and therapeutic considerations

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Churg- Strauss syndrome (CSS) are small-vessel vasculitides that, because of their frequent association with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), are usually referred to as ANCA-associated systemic vasculitides (AASV). The diagnosis of AASV is made on the basis of clinical findings, biopsy of an involved organ and the presence of ANCA in the serum. Lung disease is a very common and important clinical feature of AASV. In WG, almost all patients have either upper airway or lower respiratory tract disease. Solitary or multiple nodules, frequently cavitated, and masses are the most common findings on chest radiography. Asthma is a cardinal symptom of CSS, often preceded by allergic rhinitis. Pulmonary transient and patchy alveolar infiltrates are the most common radiographic findings. In MPA, diffuse alveolar haemorrhage as a result of alveolar capillaritis is the most frequent manifestation of respiratory involvement, and is clinically expressed as haemoptysis, respiratory distress and anaemia. However, diffuse alveolar haemorrhage may also be subclinical and should be suspected when a chest radiograph demonstrates new unexplained bilateral alveolar infiltrates in the context of falling haemoglobin levels. Normal and high-resolution CT have a higher sensitivity than chest radiography for demonstrating airway, parenchymal and pleural lesions. However, many of these radiological findings are nonspecific and, therefore, their interpretation must take into account all clinical, laboratory and pathological data. Therapy of AASV is commonly divided into two phases: an initial 'remission induction' phase, in which more intensive immunosuppressant therapy is used to control disease activity, and a 'maintenance' phase, which uses less intensive therapy, for maintaining disease remission while lowering the risk of adverse effects of immunosuppressant drugs. In patients with AASV refractory to standard therapy with corticosteroids and oral cyclophosphamide, new therapeutic options are now available. Recurrence of pulmonary symptoms suggesting a flare indicates the need for a careful search for an opportunistic lung infection or iatrogenic pulmonary complications. In conclusion, involvement of the respiratory system is a very common and important organ manifestation of AASV. Respiratory system involvement comprises a wide spectrum of clinical features and radiological findings, and because of its frequency and prognostic significance, a complete assessment of the respiratory system should be included in the work-up of all patients with AASV.