1/58. pulmonary fibrosis in a steel mill worker.We report a case of pulmonary fibrosis in a 32-year-old man, who had worked at a steel mill and who died of respiratory failure due to interstitial fibrosis despite vigorous treatment. He showed SLE-associated symptoms, such as pleural effusion, malar rashes, discoid rashes, arthritis, leukopenia, and positive antinuclear antibody and anti-histone antibody. However, he did not present anti-dna antibody. A thoracoscopic lung biopsy showed interstitial fibrosis, chronic inflammation and a small non-caseating granuloma in lung tissues, which could be induced by external agents such as metals. The manganese concentration in the lung tissue was 4.64 microg/g compared to 0.42-0.7 microg/g in the controls. The levels of other metals, such as iron, nickel, cobalt and zinc in patient's lung tissue were higher than those in the controls. The patient was probably exposed to Si and various metal dusts, and the lung fibrosis was related to these exposures. Exposure to Si and metal dusts should be sought in the history of any patient with SLE, especially in a male with pulmonary signs, and if present, exposure should be stopped. In the meantime, steps should be taken to ensure that workers exposure to Si and metal dusts in all environments have adequate protection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/58. Persistent pneumomediastinum in interstitial fibrosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis: treatment with high-concentration oxygen.We present a case of persistent spontaneous pneumomediastinum precipitated by an upper respiratory infection in a patient with interstitial fibrosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis who was receiving chronic corticosteroid treatment. The persistent nature of the mediastinal emphysema over 2 months eventually required treatment with high concentrations of inhaled oxygen that resulted in rapid resolution of the pneumomediastinum without recurrence over 6 months of follow-up. This case, along with others in the medical literature, emphasizes the need for early use of high-concentration inhaled oxygen in the treatment of pneumomediastinum in high-risk patients, such as those with connective tissue disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7.2022842609062keywords = rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/58. Rheumatoid disease without arthritis.A middle-aged man developed multiple subcutaneous rheumatoid granulomata, high titer of rheumatoid factor, diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and digital clubbing in the absence of clinicoradiological evidence of synovial disease. This patient supports the concept of rheumatoid disease without arthritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/58. Periarticular calcinosis associated with anti-Jo-1 antibodies sine myositis. Expanding the clinical spectrum of the antisynthetase syndrome.We describe a 58-year-old woman who developed interstitial lung disease (ILD), polyarthritis, and anti-Jo-1 antibodies, with no clinical evidence of myositis. Despite successful treatment with corticosteroid and azathioprine for her arthritis and pulmonary condition, she developed deforming arthropathy of the hands, with periarticular calcinosis. The association of anti-Jo-1 antibodies, ILD, and periarticular calcinosis with subluxing arthropathy sine myositis is rare, with few cases reported. This report expands the clinical spectrum of the antisynthetase syndrome, which is broader than previously reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/58. pulmonary fibrosis and other clinical manifestations of small vessel vasculitis in a family with seropositive juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.We report on a family (mother, daughter, and son) suffering from progressive pulmonary fibrosis associated with deforming arthritis, sinusitis, glomerulonephritis, and cutaneous vasculitis. We suggest that these clinical features display the variable expressions of small-vessel vasculitis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 17.011421304531keywords = rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/58. Migratory pulmonary infiltrates in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.The case history is described of an elderly man with rheumatoid arthritis receiving treatment with sulfasalazine and the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib who presented with severe shortness of breath, cough, and decreased exercise tolerance. The chest radiograph showed unilateral alveolo-interstitial infiltrates and a biopsy specimen of the lung parenchyma showed changes consistent with acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Antibiotic treatment was unsuccessful, but treatment with steroids and discontinuation of sulfasalazine and celecoxib resulted in a marked clinical improvement confirmed by arterial blood gas analysis. The condition may have developed as an adverse reaction either to sulfasalazine or to celecoxib, although hypersensitivity to the latter has not previously been reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 16.011421304531keywords = rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/58. Pulmonary manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis.Chest radiographs of 39 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were studied. Three showed apical pulmonary fibrosis, two with cavitary lesions. Other known causes of lung disease were excluded. Symptoms and roentgenographic evidence of spondylitis were present for many years prior to the onset of pulmonary symptoms, which variably included shortness of breath, cough, hemoptysis, pleuritic chest pain, fever, and chills. Apical pulmonary lesions of unknown cause were absent in 53 age, sex, and racematched osteoarthritis control patients. The findings suggest that apical pulmonary fibrosis may be an extra-skeletal manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis, the frequency of which approaches that of spondylitic heart disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/58. Clinical response of rheumatoid arthritis-associated pulmonary fibrosis to tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition.Treatment options for patients with pulmonary fibrosis associated with rheumatoid disease are limited. We report a case of a 71-year-old man with a 3-year history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) referred to the pulmonary clinic because of progressive pulmonary symptoms associated with radiographic fibrosis that was progressive in spite of corticosteroid treatment. In an attempt to control his articular symptoms and alter the course of his pulmonary fibrosis, treatment with IV infusion of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor infliximab was initiated. Following 1 year of therapy with this agent, the patient reported sustained improvement in dyspnea, cough, and exercise tolerance, in addition to improvement in joint symptoms. Stabilization of pulmonary function was indicated by repeat pulmonary function test findings. This report suggests that inhibition of TNF-alpha may be of significant benefit to patients with fibrosing lung conditions in the setting of RA.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 16.011421304531keywords = rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/58. Pulmonary granulomas after tumour necrosis factor alpha antagonist therapy.Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) antagonists are an established therapeutic option in Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. In recently published studies these agents have been used with great success, but little is known about any side effects or long term consequences. They increase the frequency of infections with mycobacteria, where TNFalpha is thought to be an important host defence factor. We describe one patient who was treated with TNFalpha antagonists and later developed pulmonary granulomas with caseating necrosis without detection of mycobacteria or any other pathogens. Possible mechanisms involved in this newly recognised side effect are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3.2022842609062keywords = rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/58. Diffuse pulmonary injury associated with gold treatment.Two patients had diffuse, reversible pulmonary injury possibly owing to gold sodium thiomalate treatment: a 32-year-old woman with chronic inflammatory arthritis compatible with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and a 32-year-old man with shoulder arthralgia. The patients had received 420 mg and 325 mg of gold sodium thiomalate, respectively. cough and dyspnea began in the seventh and fifth weeks of therapy, respectively. In both patients x-ray study showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, with no evidence of pleural disease. The woman had no other manifestations of hypersensitivity to gold. The man had exfoliative dermatitis fever and anemia. lung biopsies from both patients revealed lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrating the alveolar septa and interstitial fibrosis. The woman improved slowly during four months after discontinuation of therapy. Pulmonary symptoms recurred after additional gold therapy, and again resolved when gold was discontinued. The man, treated with prednisone, showed prompt remission and remains will without medication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.2022842609062keywords = rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |