Airway disease in rheumatoid arthritis

SM Matson, MK Demoruelle, M Castro - Annals of the American …, 2022 - atsjournals.org
Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 2022atsjournals.org
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common condition affecting approximately 1% of the general
population. RA is a multisystem disorder that causes progressive articular destruction
through synovial inflammation. One of the most common extraarticular manifestations of RA
is pulmonary involvement, where all compartments of the pulmonary system can be
impacted (eg, pulmonary vasculature, pleura, parenchyma, and the airways). Although it has
been known for decades that a portion of patients with RA develop interstitial lung disease …
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common condition affecting approximately 1% of the general population. RA is a multisystem disorder that causes progressive articular destruction through synovial inflammation. One of the most common extraarticular manifestations of RA is pulmonary involvement, where all compartments of the pulmonary system can be impacted (e.g., pulmonary vasculature, pleura, parenchyma, and the airways). Although it has been known for decades that a portion of patients with RA develop interstitial lung disease, and recent advancements in understanding the genetic risk and treatment for RA-interstitial lung disease have drawn attention, more recent data have begun to highlight the significance of airway disease in patients with RA. Yet, little is known about the underlying pathogenesis, clinical impact, or optimal treatment strategies for airway disease in RA. This review will focus on airway disease involvement in patients with RA by highlighting areas of clinical inquiry for pulmonologists and rheumatologists and discuss areas for future research. Finally, we discuss a potential screening algorithm for providers when approaching patients with RA with respiratory complaints.
ATS Journals