Alhajery Mohammad A
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, SAU.
Cureus. 2024 Jan 16;16(1):e52350. doi: 10.7759/cureus.52350. eCollection 2024 Jan.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory multisystemic disease characterized by erosive arthritis with many extra-articular manifestations. Pleuropulmonary manifestations are frequently seen in patients with RA. Risk factors include male gender, severe erosive arthritis, high titers of rheumatoid factor, subcutaneous nodules, smoking, genetic predisposition, and the presence of other extra-articular manifestations of RA. We report a patient known to have RA presenting with multiple lung nodules. A 35-year-old female patient, known to have seropositive RA, was diagnosed 10 years ago. She was on oral corticosteroids (OCS) 5 mg daily, Upadacitinib 15 mg daily, and methotrexate (MTX) 20 mg weekly. The patient was referred for pulmonary medicine evaluation because of the finding of multiple lung nodules on chest imaging. A routine chest X-ray conducted as a part of the general evaluation showed a nodular opacity in the right lower lobe. Subsequently, a high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan of the chest was carried out and showed multiple pulmonary nodules. At the time of evaluation, she had no active respiratory symptoms with no signs of respiratory distress. As she was an active smoker, the decision was to proceed with a CT-guided biopsy besides full clinical, hematological, biochemical, and microbiological evaluations. The histopathological findings suggested a rheumatoid nodule with no evidence of malignant or infectious causes. No specific therapy was added at the time being, and the patient was monitored with regular follow-ups. Differentiation of rheumatoid lung nodules from other causes, such as malignancy and infectious causes, is essential. A biopsy with histopathological evaluation is a must in those with a high likelihood of malignancy, such as smokers. In addition to that, comprehensive clinical, hematological, microbiological, and radiological evaluations are required. Rheumatoid lung nodules are usually asymptomatic, with no specific therapy needed apart from the general management of RA with glucocorticoid, immunosuppressive, and biologic therapies.
类风湿关节炎(RA)是一种炎症性多系统疾病,其特征为侵蚀性关节炎,并伴有许多关节外表现。胸膜肺部表现常见于RA患者。危险因素包括男性、严重侵蚀性关节炎、高滴度类风湿因子、皮下结节、吸烟、遗传易感性以及RA的其他关节外表现。我们报告一例已知患有RA且出现多个肺结节的患者。一名35岁女性患者,已知患有血清阳性RA,于10年前确诊。她每天口服5毫克皮质类固醇(OCS)、15毫克乌帕替尼以及每周20毫克甲氨蝶呤(MTX)。由于胸部影像学检查发现多个肺结节,该患者被转诊至肺科进行评估。作为常规评估的一部分进行的胸部X线检查显示右下叶有结节状阴影。随后进行了胸部高分辨率CT(HRCT)扫描,显示多个肺结节。在评估时,她没有活动性呼吸道症状,也没有呼吸窘迫的迹象。由于她是一名吸烟者,除了进行全面的临床、血液学、生化和微生物学评估外,还决定进行CT引导下活检。组织病理学检查结果提示为类风湿结节,无恶性或感染性病因的证据。当时未添加特殊治疗,对患者进行定期随访监测。区分类风湿肺结节与其他病因,如恶性肿瘤和感染性病因,至关重要。对于恶性可能性高的患者,如吸烟者,必须进行组织病理学评估的活检。除此之外,还需要进行全面的临床、血液学、微生物学和放射学评估。类风湿肺结节通常无症状,除了用糖皮质激素、免疫抑制剂和生物疗法对RA进行常规管理外,无需特殊治疗。