Rheumatoid arthritis increases the risk of pleural empyema

Systemic complications of rheumatoid arthritis: Focus on pathogenesis and treatment

As a systemic autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) usually causes damage not only to joints, but also to other tissues and organs including the heart, kidneys, lungs, digestive system, eyes, skin, and nervous system. Excessive complications are closely related to the prognosis of RA patients and even lead to increased mortality. This article summarizes the serious complications of RA, focusing on its incidence, pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment methods, aiming to provide a reference for clinicians to better manage the complications of RA.

Fusobacterium nucleatum Pleural Empyema in a Patient with Progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis and Immunosuppression

Fusobacterium nucleatum is an anaerobic oral commensal organism that is often associated with inflammatory bowel disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, respiratory tract infections, and Lemierre's syndrome. Rheumatoid arthritis is often associated with pleuropulmonary manifestations including noninfectious pleural effusions and interstitial lung disease. We present a case of a 47-year-old man with progressive rheumatoid arthritis on immunosuppressive therapy who was found to have a left-sided pleural effusion, thought secondary to possible pneumonia, and was treated with levofloxacin and methylprednisolone. He presented a month later and was found to have a large left-sided thick-walled fluid collection found to be an empyema. A chest tube was placed, and fluid culture grew Fusobacterium nucleatum. The patient was successfully treated with intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.