Rheumatoid Lung Disease | Treatment & Risk Factors

Rheumatoid lung disease is a group of lung problems related to rheumatoid arthritis. The condition can include:

• Blockage of the small airways (bronchiolitis obliterans)
• Fluid in the chest (pleural effusions)
• High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
• Lumps in the lungs (nodules)
• Scarring (pulmonary fibrosis)

In this article, we take a close look at rheumatoid lung disease, including treatment and risk factors.

Treatment

Treatment for rheumatoid lung disease may vary, depending on the specific manifestations of the disease and the symptoms. For instance, treatment for a pleural effusion involves inserting a needle to drain the fluid.

In some cases, such as when a person has small lung nodules that are not causing any symptoms, they may not need treatment.

If a person has inflammation and scarring of the lungs, doctors usually recommend treatment, though this will not reverse the damage to the lungs. Instead, treatment usually involves managing a person’s symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease.

The following treatments can help with scarring caused by rheumatoid lung disease:

Medication

Doctors previously recommended certain types of medication to treat interstitial lung disease due to RA. This medication decreases inflammation or acts as an immunosuppressant.

Pulmonary rehabilitation

People can take pulmonary rehabilitation classes, which involve a mixture of exercises and education on lung disease.

At these classes, a person with rheumatoid lung disease can learn about techniques and practical strategies to manage their shortness of breath and improve their quality of life.

However, people with rheumatoid lung disease often have joint problems that can interfere with their exercises, making pulmonary rehab classes difficult.

Oxygen therapy

Doctors may recommend oxygen therapy to increase people’s comfort. This therapy can help people control their shortness of breath.

Lung transplant

In some cases, a lung transplant is needed to treat interstitial lung disease. Qualifying for a lung transplant is a long process, and not every person with rheumatoid lung disease is a candidate for transplant.

Risk factors

People with RA have an eight times higher risk of developing lung disease compared to the rest of the population. In people who have RA, specific factors may increase their risk of the lungs being affected.

According to one study, which involved 230 people with a history of RA, the most significant risk factor for developing rheumatoid lung disease was high levels of anti-CCP antibodies.

Anti-CCP antibodies are a type of protein that is produced by the immune system. Testing positive for anti-CCP antibodies is one indicator of RA. High levels may indicate the severity of the disease.

The following groups have additional risk factors for developing rheumatoid lung disease:

• men
• people who smoke, especially men
• people over 60 years of age who have been diagnosed with RA

Visit your near by hospitals for the treatment of rheumatoid lung disease and best pulmonologists in Eastern India.