title: Characterisation of severe obliterative bronchiolitis in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who develop obliterative bronchiolitis characterised by severe airflow obstruction have been hitherto poorly investigated. A retrospective study of 25 patients with RA and functional evidence of obliterative bronchiolitis (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity (FVC) <50% and/or residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC) >140% predicted) was conducted. Patients (mean+/-SD age 64+/-11 yrs) included 17 never-smokers and eight ex-smokers (10.5+/-5.4 pack-yrs). The diagnosis of RA preceded respiratory symptoms in 88% of cases. Dyspnoea on exertion was present in all patients and bronchorrhea in 44%. High-resolution computed tomography findings included: bronchial wall thickening (96%), bronchiectasis (40%), mosaic pattern (40%), centrilobular emphysema (56%), and reticular and/or ground-glass opacities (32%). Pulmonary function tests showed: FEV(1) 41+/-12% pred, FEV(1)/FVC 49+/-14%, FVC 70+/-20% pred, RV 148+/-68% pred and RV/TLC 142+/-34% pred. Lung biopsy, available in nine patients, demonstrated constrictive, follicular and mixed bronchiolitis. Patients were followed for 48.2+/-49 months. Treatment was poorly effective. Chronic respiratory failure occurred in 40% of patients, and four patients died. Obliterative bronchiolitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis is a severe and under-recognised condition leading to respiratory failure and death in a high proportion of patients.
authors.affiliation: Hospices civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Service de Pneumologie, Pierre-Bénite, Université de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Devouassoux
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cottin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lioté
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Frachon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Béjui-Thivolet
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cordier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014109:Total Lung Capacity; D014797:Vital Capacity