THE PLEURAL AND PULMONARY COMPLICATIONS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Of 180 patients with rheumatoid arthritis seen during a period of 2 years, 9 had or had had a pleural effusion for which no cause could be found other than rheumatoid disease. Eight of these patients were males. Two patients also had coincident parenchymatous lung lesions, one nodular and the other diffuse and fibrotic. A 10th patient had radiologic evidence of honeycomb lung. Case histories are presented and literature reviewed. It is concluded that pleural effusion occurs not infrequently in the course of rheumatoid arthritis, predominantly in men and is often an inaugural event in the disease. It may be associated with parenchymatous pulmonary disease, but more commonly is an isolated finding. The prognosis and treatment of these patients was described.