Rheumatoid lung disease - Treatment

Alternative Names

Lung disease - rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid nodules

Treatment:

Many people with this condition have no symptoms. Treatments are aimed at the underlying disorder and the complications caused by the disorder. Corticosteroids or other medicines that suppress the immune system are sometimes useful.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is related to the underlying disorder and the type and severity of lung disease.

Complications:

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider PROMPTLY if you have rheumatoid arthritis and you develop unexplained breathing difficulties.

Bronchoscopy

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 6/10/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Raghu G. Interstitial lung disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 92.

Corte TJ, duBois RM. The lungs and connective tissue diseases. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 58.

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