RESUMO
Introduction: Regarding to frequency of prevalence of [RA], Pulmonary involvement is a common and serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis this study was performed
Objectives: Determine the prevalence of pulmonary disease in onset of rheumatoid arthritis base on history, physical examination, radiographic and pulmonary function test
Material and Methods: 52 patients [43 women, 9 men] fulfilling the ACR [American college of Rheumatology] criteria for RA [Rheumatoid arthritis] were consecutively assessed in a cross sectional study. Detailed medical [including respiratory symptoms and the disease activity symptoms] and drug and occupational histories were obtained. All patients underwent a complete pulmonary and rheumatologic examination and conventional chest radiography. All patients underwent PFT that comprised spirometry and body plethsmography. Data were analyzed by SPSS software
Results: Their mean age was 45.8 +/- 11.1 years [range: 21-78] and the duration of the disease was less than 6 months. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 76.9%. All patients were nonsmoker. Base on history: cough in 7.7%, dyspnea in 17.3% and wheezing in 1.9% was detected. Physical examination findings showed expiration wheezing [5.8%] and decreasing breath sound [1.9%], Chest X-ray was abnormal in 51/9% [Interstitial opacities 50% and Air-space densities 1.9%] PFT was abnormal in 30.8% [obstructive 15.4%, restrictive 9.6%, mixed pattern 5.8%]
Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of lung involvement in beginning of rheumatoid arthritis, so we recommend to perform diagnostic investigation of pulmonary involvement [PFT, Chest X-ray, ] in beginning of RA