rheumatoid lung disease

Etiology

• rheumatoid arthritis

Pathology

• rheumatoid nodules may be found in the lung

Clinical manifestations

• many patients have no pulmonary symptoms
• dyspnea
• cough
• chest pain
• fever
• crackles or decreased breath sounds
• other signs/symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Diagnostic procedures

• echocardiogram may show pulmonary hypertension
• bronchoscopy with endoscopic biopsy, or open lung biopsy

Radiology

• chest X-ray
• CT of thorax

Complications

• pulmonary hypertension
• pneumothorax
• pleural effusion
• pulmonary fibrosis

Management

• see rheumatoid arthritis

More general terms

• lung disease

Additional terms

• rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• rheumatoid nodule