High-resolution computed tomography in rheumatoid arthritis

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

OBJECTIVES To define pulmonary involvement on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the thorax in lifelong non-smoking rheumatoid arthritis patients and to relate the results to pulmonary function, bronchial reactivity, and a variety of clinical and serological factors. METHODS Twenty lifelong non-smoking RA patients (mean age 59 years (range 44-72; 18 females) were studied. Detailed ...

Use of high resolution computed tomography of the lungs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To assess the usefulness of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with and without respiratory symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty eight RA patients with a mean duration of disease 12 (SD 8) years were evaluated. Eleven patients were excluded because of previous exposure to silica. The 77 remaining patients formed two gr...

Pulmonary function tests and high resolution computed tomography of the lungs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To compare the results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS Sixty eight patients (54 women, 14 men) fulfilling the revised criteria for RA were consecutively included in a transversal prospective study. Their mean age was 58.8 years (range: 35-82) and the mean duration of the dis...

Latent tuberculosis in rheumatoid arthritis: evaluating cellular response and high-resolution computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION The diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (LTB) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has become important with the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF-α) agents and the appearance of active tuberculosis cases in these patients. The tuberculin skin test (TST) has limited value in patients with RA. Tests based on the release of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) are being stu...

High Resolution Computed Tomography