Clinical and preclinical pulmonary disease in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: a two-year follow-up study
Authors' conclusion
Emphysema and bronchiectasis were common, but most patients had mild disease with preserved lung function. Preclinical or clinical ILD was seen in a minority in this early phase of RA.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (mean age 57 years, 63% female; 59% current or former smokers)136 baseline pulmonary function tests (PFTs), 137 computed tomography (CT)
- Participants
- 150 patients
- Outcome
- Frequency of pulmonary disease, including ILD, by systematic PFTs and CT
- Follow-up
- Inclusion and two years
Methodological detailssingle-centre, two-year follow-up
- Single-centre
- Two-year follow-up
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Frequency of pulmonary disease at baseline (PFTs and CT)
- Mean FEV1, % predicted
- 99%
- Mean FVC, % predicted
- 106%
- Mean DLCO, % predicted
- 84%
- Pulmonary nodules on CT
- 42%
- Bronchiectasis on CT
- 29%
- Emphysema on CT
- 20%
- Clinically significant interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- 2
- Mild reticulation suggestive of preclinical ILD
- 6
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ILD progression · two-year follow-up
- No ILD progression identified
Association of smoking with lung findings
- Smoking associated with DLCO<80%
- P = 0.004
- Smoking associated with combined hyperinflation and diffusion impairment (residual volume>120% and DLCO<80%)
- P = 0.004
- Smoking associated with visual emphysema on CT
- P < 0.001
Original publication
Clinical and preclinical pulmonary disease in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: a two-year follow-up study. Scand J Rheumatol. Published 17 April 2023. doi:10.
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