Watch out for the Deadly Combo of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pulmonary Fibrosis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where your body's immune system goes haywire and attacks the synovial membrane of the joints, causing inflammation. If left untreated, it can lead to complications beyond the common joint pain and stiffness. One such complication affects 10 to 20% of patients, and it's called pulmonary fibrosis. This condition causes scarring in the lungs, eventually leading to respiratory failure and even death.
Rheumatoid arthritis predominantly targets small joints like the wrist, metacarpophalangeal joints, and toes. Unlike typical arthritis, patients may struggle to move their joints in the morning, experiencing stiffness and pain that can last up to half an hour.
Additionally, this autoimmune disease typically affects the same joint on both sides of the body, causing symmetrical pain. In severe cases, the inflammation may spread to the elbows, knees, shoulders, and other joints, seriously disrupting daily life.
Pulmonary fibrosis due to rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects various organs and body parts due to an abnormality in the immune system. One of the significant risks associated with this condition is the development of pulmonary fibrosis. This occurs when the 'interstitium,' the material between the alveoli, crusts over due to inflammation or fibrosis, impairing ventilation function. When it invades the lungs, it can lead to inflammation and fibrosis of the interstitial lung tissue.
This fibrosis causes the lungs to lose their elasticity, thickens the walls of the alveoli, and impairs air exchange, resulting in shortness of breath, dry cough, and breathlessness. In severe cases, it can even cause respiratory failure and death.
Thankfully, there are multiple medications available to help patients with rheumatoid arthritis manage the various complications that come with it. Recent studies have shown that drugs that inhibit lung fibrosis and cell growth factor migration can significantly reduce the risk of death due to pulmonary fibrosis. These drugs help maintain lung capacity for up to 52 weeks and prevent rapid deterioration of lung fibrosis.
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