title: [Broncho-alveolar lavage in pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: This study was designed to investigate by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) the characteristics of lung involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Twenty six patients with RA were included; ten were active smokers. Chest X Ray, pulmonary function tests and BAL were performed in all patients. Bronchiolitis was found in 7% of cases, pleurisy in 30% of cases. 83% of patients were found to have diffuse alveolar and/or interstitial disease, 17% rheumatoid nodules. Functional evaluation showed a restrictive pattern and a significant reduction in the carbon monoxyde diffusing capacity. Smokers had elevated BAL macrophages and decreased lymphocytes compared with non-smokers: respectively 89% vs 62.9% and 7.3% vs 18.9%. Patients with bronchiolitis had lower FVC than others: 38 +/- 14% vs 61 +/- 3%, and their BAL neutrophils were increased: 71 +/- 23% vs 7.5 +/- 2%. There was an inverse correlation between neutrophil counts and FVC in non-smokers, and diffusing capacity. We conclude that BAL inflammatory cells profiles are abnormal in RA and modified by a smoking history and the existence of a bronchiolitis.
authors.affiliation: Clinique de Pneumo-phtisiologie, INSERM U 214, Hôpital Laennec, Paris.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Castelbajac
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Israel-Biet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huchon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chrétien
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Le lavage broncho-alvéolaire dans les formes pulmonaires de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde.