PULMONARY MANIFESTATIONS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

The article presents the primary manifestations of interstitial lung involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and provides insights based on the authors’ clinical observations of a patient with this pathology. The authors indicate that interstitial lung involvement is one of the most common complications in RA patients, manifesting as interstitial pneumonia, fibrosis, rheumatoid nodules, and reticular changes. These features often reflect the severity of the disease and can significantly impair patients’ quality of life. The article describes clinical findings in a patient with an aggressive course of RA receiving long-term conventional and biological therapy (methotrexate, folic acid, methylprednisolone, and tocilizumab). Chest radiography and computed tomography revealed bilateral interstitial changes, including ground-glass opacities and reticular consolidations. This case highlights the importance of timely diagnosis of interstitial lung involvement in RA patients, the selection of an optimal therapeutic strategy, and the prevention of progressive pulmonary pathology.