Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion

Pleural effusions and pulmonary nodules are known complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) though pleural extra-articular manifestations without clinical arthritis are rare. We present a 66-year-old male with dyspnea and weight loss, whose imaging revealed pleural effusions and lung nodules, multi...

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Main Authors: Ramsha Abbas, Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Anthony El Khoury, AlBatool AlMahdy, Mohammad Abu Hishmeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213007124001527
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author Ramsha Abbas
Muhammad Ahmed Khan
Anthony El Khoury
AlBatool AlMahdy
Mohammad Abu Hishmeh
author_facet Ramsha Abbas
Muhammad Ahmed Khan
Anthony El Khoury
AlBatool AlMahdy
Mohammad Abu Hishmeh
author_sort Ramsha Abbas
collection DOAJ
description Pleural effusions and pulmonary nodules are known complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) though pleural extra-articular manifestations without clinical arthritis are rare. We present a 66-year-old male with dyspnea and weight loss, whose imaging revealed pleural effusions and lung nodules, multiple exudative pleural effusions, and a thoracoscopic biopsy showing chronic pleuritis and granulomatous inflammation. Subsequent joint stiffness and positive rheumatoid markers led to a RA diagnosis. Patient received prednisone and methotrexate, leading to symptomatic improvement but with recurrent pleural effusions, requiring regular thoracenteses. RA can cause pleural effusions and lung nodules without arthritis necessitating advanced treatments for persistent effusions.
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spelling doaj-art-a7369efc29a54576a48df5ec38b8186e2025-08-20T02:38:11ZengElsevierRespiratory Medicine Case Reports2213-00712024-01-015210212910.1016/j.rmcr.2024.102129Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusionRamsha Abbas0Muhammad Ahmed Khan1Anthony El Khoury2AlBatool AlMahdy3Mohammad Abu Hishmeh4Department of Internal Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USA; Corresponding author. 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USA.Department of Internal Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USADepartment of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USADepartment of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USADepartment of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USAPleural effusions and pulmonary nodules are known complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) though pleural extra-articular manifestations without clinical arthritis are rare. We present a 66-year-old male with dyspnea and weight loss, whose imaging revealed pleural effusions and lung nodules, multiple exudative pleural effusions, and a thoracoscopic biopsy showing chronic pleuritis and granulomatous inflammation. Subsequent joint stiffness and positive rheumatoid markers led to a RA diagnosis. Patient received prednisone and methotrexate, leading to symptomatic improvement but with recurrent pleural effusions, requiring regular thoracenteses. RA can cause pleural effusions and lung nodules without arthritis necessitating advanced treatments for persistent effusions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213007124001527
spellingShingle Ramsha Abbas
Muhammad Ahmed Khan
Anthony El Khoury
AlBatool AlMahdy
Mohammad Abu Hishmeh
Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
title Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
title_full Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
title_fullStr Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
title_full_unstemmed Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
title_short Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
title_sort rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213007124001527
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