Interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Associated factors.
Keywords:
rheumatoid arthritis; diffuse interstitial lung disease; high-resolution computed tomographyAbstract
Introduction: The pulmonary manifestations of rheumatic diseases constitute a challenge in the practice of rheumatology.
Objective: To characterize interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted, including 109 protocol-approved patients who consecutively attended the rheumatoid arthritis clinic of the Rheumatology Department of Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical and Surgical Hospital, from July 2020 to January 2022. Patients were assessed for interstitial lung disease using high-resolution computed tomography.
Results: The mean age was 57.3 ± 11.1 years, with 85.3% being female and 69.7% having a history of onset of less than 10 years. Interstitial lung disease was identified in 64.2% of patients, with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia predominating in 46.8%. In patients with interstitial lung disease, the percentage with respiratory symptoms (91.4% vs. 7.7% p < 0.001), a restrictive pattern on lung function tests (47.1% vs. 23.1% p = 0.038), and positive anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (82.9% vs. 46.2% p < 0.001) was significantly higher compared with the group with normal high-resolution computed tomography. Similarly, the mean age of patients with interstitial lung disease was significantly higher (60.0 ± 9.1 vs. 52.5 ± 12.7 years = 0.001). No significant association was found between the presence of interstitial lung disease and the type of treatment received.
Conclusions: The incidence of interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is high. The risk of developing interstitial lung disease is higher in patients with advanced age, respiratory symptoms, and the presence of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Araceli Chico Capote, Miguel Hernán Estévez del Toro , Ligia Beatriz Cova Ramos, Nelsa Dalmis Casas Figueredo, Ana del Carmen Argüelles Zayas, Rolando Dayan Puente Carmona
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