title: [Rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial lung alterations - a clear case, isn't it?].
abstract: In a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and asymptomatic, diffuse reticulo-nodular lung parenchymal alterations with upper lobe predominance, a Caplan syndrome (CS) was diagnosed. According to the size of the pulmonary nodules, classification into two subtypes of the CS has been proposed: the classic (Caplan) type and the silicotic type. Patients with CS often present with considerable x-ray or computertomographic changes but relatively few symptoms. However, in case of respiratory symptoms, infectious complications or pneumotoxic side effects of the immunsuppressive/immune-modulating pharmacotherapy for RA must be encountered in the differential diagnosis.
authors: Klinik für Pneumologie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich. daniel.franzen@usz.ch
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Franzen
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Bürgi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gaspert
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kohler