Correlation With Disease Activity Score 28 (Das28) With Pulmonary Function Test In Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology involving both small and large joints with many extra-articular manifestations. There may be a variety of pulmonary complications associated with RA based on its disease activity and levels of RF and anti-CCP titers. Pulmonary involvement may be seen at different levels of the respiratory system, with infection being the most common cause of mortality. Our study shows the association and degree of pulmonary involvement in patients with RA based on the pulmonary function test and its correlation with the DAS 28 score. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of pulmonary involvement in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The study population was 100 patients with RA diagnosed based on the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria following all the exclusion. The patients were subjected to a PFT on diagnosis and repeated at 6 and 18 months following treatment. In our study, there is a higher prevalence of pulmonary involvement seen in doing PFT, even in asymptomatic patients with RA when compared to other studies. Pulmonary complications occurring in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis may be identified on doing a PFT or HRCT thorax. Pulmonary involvement carries significant mortality and morbidity. Disease duration and disease activity score 28 were found to have a significant association with pulmonary complications. Although our study brings out the incidence of higher risk of pulmonary involvement in patients with RA, more studies meta-analysis are required.