Diagnosis & Symptoms of Rheumatoid Lung Disease

Rheumatoid lung disease involves a group of lung conditions associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) usually affects the joints, but it can also have an impact on a person’s lungs. In the lungs, RA can cause scarring, inflammation, and lung nodules.

In this article, we take a close look at rheumatoid lung disease, including its symptoms and diagnosis.

What causes rheumatoid lung disease?

Rheumatoid lung disease can develop as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis or RA.

RA is a type of autoimmune disease that usually leads to inflammation in the joints, but some people also develop inflammation and scarring in other organ systems and parts of their body.

The lungs are of the most common site outside of the joints for people with RA to develop inflammation. According to the Arthritis Foundation, about 10 percent of people with RA develop some form of rheumatoid lung disease.

Forms of rheumatoid lung disease

Rheumatoid lung disease can manifest in various forms, such as:

• inflammation and scarring of the lungs, known as interstitial lung disease
• a buildup of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs called pleural effusions
• lung nodules or small growths in the lungs

Symptoms

The symptoms of rheumatoid lung disease may vary, depending on how the condition manifests. In some cases, such as when lung nodules develop, people may not experience any symptoms.

But in other instances, especially if rheumatoid lung disease has led to scaring of the lungs, symptoms may include:

• shortness of breath
• weakness
• decreased appetite
• dry cough
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss

Diagnosis

Many of the symptoms of rheumatoid lung disease also occur in other types of interstitial lung disease, as well as other respiratory conditions. After taking a medical history and doing a physical exam, a doctor may order the following diagnostic tests:

Biopsy

During a biopsy, a doctor removes a small amount of lung tissue to check for inflammation and scarring.

A biopsy of the lung tissue can be done either through a bronchoscopy or surgically.

During a bronchoscopy, a doctor inserts a scope with a camera attached through the nose or mouth into the lung. The tool collects a small amount of tissue for examination.

A surgical lung biopsy involves a doctor inserting a needle through the chest wall or making a cut in the skin on the chest to remove a sample of tissue.

Blood tests

Doctors may order blood tests to measure markers of inflammation in the body, including sedimentation rate and C-reactive proteins.

CT scan

A CT scan of the lungs produces cross-sectional images, which allows the doctor to view the lungs and determine whether there is any scarring. CT scans are often more helpful than X-rays when diagnosing rheumatoid lung disease.

Pulmonary function test

A pulmonary functions test (PFT) involve a series of breathing tests that measure how much air a person can blow out of their lungs, as well as the volume of gas in the lungs. A PFT helps doctors to determine if a person’s lung function is below normal.

Visit the best hospitals for the treatment, the best Pulmonologists in Kolkata which is AMRI Hospitals Group.