title: Rheumatoid lung disease. (A clinical, physiological and histological study in 33 patients).
abstract: Clinical, physiological and histological investigations on lung involvement are reported in 33 rheumatoid patients. The clinico-pathological patterns of rheumatoid lung disease observed in 19/27 non-smoking female patients were characterized radiologically by diffuse interstitial opacities, functionally by V/Q inequality and microscopically by peribronchiolar and/or alveolar fibrosis. Emphasis is placed on the ventilation/perfusion relationship as well as histopathological studies for a more accurate diagnosis of lung disease in RA. Patients with pulmonary nodules and pleural opacities were also observed. A possible immunological aetiology is suggested on the basis of the simultaneous finding of IgG, complement and fibrinogen in the pulmonary tissue.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged