Association of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema in rheumatoid arthritis with high titer of rheumatoid factor and autoimmunity to the lung.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) commonly coexists with connective tissue diseases (CTD), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the risk factors contributing to the development of CTD-CPFE remain largely unidentified. This study aimed to characterize CPFE using a large cohort of consecutive RA patients and to elucidate potential risk factors associated with RA- CPFE development.

Methods

A total of 976 RA patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study to characterize RA-CPFE. Multiple logistic analyses were conducted to identify potential risk factors for RA-CPFE development. Patient IgG and IgM autoantibodies to primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) from healthy donors were assessed using flow cytometry.

Findings

Among

SUBMITTER: Ma A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11836040 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature