Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease in Greece: A Multicentre Epidemiological and Clinical Study.

Abstract

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) represents one of the most severe complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Preliminary data from the RA Greek cohort show a prevalence of 5.3%. Due to scarcity of data, little is known regarding the epidemiological and clinical features of Greek patients with RA-ILD. Moreover, use of pulmonary function tests for prognostic purposes in patients with RA-ILD is still not sufficiently studied. Interestingly, the treatment approach of patients with RA-ILD remains controversial due to high risk of infection, possible drug-related pulmonary toxicity, and scarce evidence regarding the efficacy of medications used in these patients. The aim of this research protocol is to collect data from patients with RA-ILD followed in multiple centres across Greece in order to identify the clinical and epidemiological features of these patients. The second part of the study focuses on the prospective data collection regarding the progression of ILD, the response to different treatment modalities and the incidence of adverse events attributed either to the disease itself or to its treatment in patients with RA-ILD. This study may provide useful evidence in exploring both the natural history and the risk factors contributing to the development of ILD, as well as the efficacy and the adverse events attributed to the medications used in Greek patients with RA-ILD; thus ameliorating the therapeutic approach of RA-ILD patients in daily clinical practice.