title: Bronchiectasis and rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relation between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and bronchiectasis (BR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Disease activity, outcome, extra-articular manifestations, and laboratory features were compared in 32 patients with BR and RA (RA-BR group), 32 matched patients with RA without BR (RA group), and 31 patients with BR but without arthritis (BR group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 30 of the 32 (94%) patients with RA-BR, BR preceded RA. There was no functional or radiological difference between the RA-BR and RA groups, and except for xerophthalmia, which was more common in patients with RA-BR than patients with RA, there was no difference in extra-articular or laboratory features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bronchiectasis does not lead to a more aggressive disease course in RA and, despite the recognised association, BR is not an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid disease.
authors.affiliation: Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Swinson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shettar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolstenholme
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Crosby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins