Proposal of a radiation-free screening protocol for early detection of interstitial lung involvement in seropositive and ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with significant cardiovascular and pulmonary morbidity. However, screening for early detection of pulmonary involvement especially interstitial lung disease (ILD) is not established in RA.

Methods

We propose a non-invasive radiation-free approach to screen for interstitial lung involvement (ILI) by means of pulmonary function tests (PFT) and pleuro-pulmonary transthoracic ultrasound (LUS) with additional cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) with ECG, and echocardiography. We included patients with confirmed diagnosis of seropositive RA according to ACR criteria, but without symptoms for or known cardiopulmonary disease. ILD was suspected when significant LUS abnormalities and additional PFT changes were presen

SUBMITTER: Reichenberger F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11585148 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature