CT Pulmonary Manifestations in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Visual scoring versus pulmonary function

Abstract

Abstract Background Pulmonary involvement is the most common extra-articular manifestation of Rheumatoid arthritis. Aim of the Work To highlight the role of HRCT in detection and characterization of variable pulmonary manifestations that can be encountered in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis trying to correlate the CT pulmonary manifestations with pulmonary functions using CT scoring system. Patients and Methods This was a retrospective study that included 32 patients who were diagnosed to have Rheumatoid Arthritis either outpatients or referred from the Rheumatology Department at Ain Shams University Hospitals to the Radiodiagnosis Department for HRCT chest examination. An acceptance from the ethical committee of Faculty of Medicine - Ain Shams University was obtained to use the data stored on PACs system with the patient’s consent was waived being a retrospective study. All patients underwent HRCT image analysis regarding the CT features and CT score for disease severity. Also, all patients did spirometery for pulmonary function assessment. Results Analyzing the data showed a female sex predominance (90.6%). 87% of the patients were diagnosed to have RA for more than 2 years duration. The most common respiratory symptom was dyspnea and the restrictive pattern was the commonest PFT finding. Ground glass pattern was the most common 78.1% followed by reticular pattern which was seen in 68.8% of patients. PFT and HRCT showed a positive correlation regarding the severity. Conclusion HRCT is a modality of choice for detection of pulmonary manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis patients with CT scoring can be used to assess the severity of disease and degree of lung involvement which is correlated with pulmonary function test.