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Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease

  • Interstitial Lung Disease (E Alhamed, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Rheumatoid-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is an important extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Mortality is increased by 3-folds in RA-ILD patients in contrast with those without ILD. RA-ILD is frequently observed in males, and the risk of developing ILD is associated with older age at time of RA onset, male gender, and greater RA disease severity. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) being the most common, with the worst prognosis. RA-ILD patients with UIP pattern tend to be older, more likely to be males, and have a more significant smoking history and worse survival. In contrast, those without the UIP pattern tend to be younger, more likely to be women, and have a less significant smoking history. This review discusses the diagnosis and therapeutic option in the management of RA-ILD.

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The author declares that there are no conflicts of interests related to the material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, 21458, Saudi Arabia

    Sultana Abdulaziz

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  1. Sultana Abdulaziz
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Correspondence to Sultana Abdulaziz.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Interstitial Lung Disease

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Abdulaziz, S. Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Curr Pulmonol Rep 4, 135–141 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-015-0121-9

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