Compromiso pulmonar intersticial en artritis reumatoide: análisis por lavado bronco-alveolar / Interstitial pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: analysis by bronchoalveolar lavage

ABSTRACT

We analyzed the reuslts of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 14 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Teh patients had total cell counts above 10 x 10***6/100 ml and or more than 10½ lymphocytes in differential counts. 40% of patients with normal clincial findings on pulmonary examination and normal A-a 02 gradients had abnormal BAL findings. These findings support the theory that pulmonary fibrosis in patients with RA may start with alveolitis, probably a lymphocytic in 60% of cases. BAL may help early diagnosis and treatment monitoring