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.
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
Shunsuke
S
Mori
Isamu
I
Cho
Mineharu
M
Sugimoto
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