Acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with rapid aggravation of rheumatoid arthritis.
A 76-year-old woman with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following an appearance of severe inflammatory symptoms in multiple synovial joints. High-dose pulse therapy with methylprednisolone induced a marked improvement in pulmonary conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature to show a causal relationship between ARDS and RA. We should be alert to the possibility that ARDS can occur as an acute-type pulmonary complication of RA, particularly when patients show rapid aggravation of rheumatic activity.
Mori
Shunsuke
S
Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Research Center for Rheumatic Disease, NHO Kumamoto Saishunsou National Hospital, 2659 Suya, Kohshi, Kumamoto, 861-1196, Japan. moris@saisyunsou1.hosp.go.jp
Cho
Isamu
I
Sugimoto
Mineharu
M
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D008727:Methotrexate