Causes and investigation of increasing dyspnoea in rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) can prove useful in diagnosing the cause of shortness of breath in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two case histories are presented, one a 61-year-old man and the other a 56-year-old woman. Both had RA and both presented with breathing difficulty and decreased lung function. Neither could be diagnosed from clinical examination, chest X ray, or lung function tests. A conventional CT scan does better at displaying the lung but does not supply sufficient image resolution. The HRCT enabled doctors to diagnose fibrosing alveolitis (thickening connective tissue) in the man and obstructive bronchiolitis (inflammation of the smaller branches of the breathing passages) in the woman. These complications were due to RA in both cases.

Causes of, Shortness of breath, Dyspnea

---

High resolution computed tomography of the lung in lifelong non-smoking patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

Bronchiectasis may be more common in rheumatoid arthritis patients then commonly thought. Bronchiectasis is abnormal dilation and thickening of the walls of the bronchial tubes. Twenty RA patients who had never smoked had high resolution computed tomography studies (HRCT) of the lungs and studies of lung function. X-ray studies of the lung were normal and no patient had respiratory symptoms. Nonetheless, 25% of the group had bronchiectasis and one had mild interstitial lung disease as diagnosed by an HRCT.

Risk factors, Lungs, Lung, Bronchiectasis

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Validity of reported pain as a measure of clinical state in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Conspicuous synovial lymphatic capillaries in juvenile idiopathic arthritis synovitis with rice bodies
• Abstracts: Management of rheumatoid neck. Concurrent onset of adult onset Still's disease and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• Abstracts: Medullary carcinoma with lymphocytic infiltration of the stomach: clinicopathologic study of 27 cases and immunohistochemical analysis of the subpopulations of infiltrating lymphocytes in the tumor
• Abstracts: Parental suspicion and identification of hearing impairment. Use of hearing aids in infancy
• Abstracts: The management of burns. Cutaneous wound healing. Initial management of burns

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.