ABSTRACT

Lungs are often affected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because they contain intensive connective tissue and blood supply is too much in them. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a kind of pulmonary involvement that can be seen during the RA course and it may affect the prognosis of the patients negatively. Genetic predisposition, smoking, rheumatoid factor positivity and the presence of anti-citrullinated peptid antibody are the factors that may contribute ILD to exist in RA patients. On the other hand, the drugs such as methotrexate, leflunomide, anti-TNF alpha and rituximab may sometimes cause either ILD to develop or the progression of ILD that is already present. To diagnose the ILD in the early stages in RA patients and to exist the factors that may cause this disease can facilitate the treatment and the follow up of the disease. In this review, we aimed to assessment of the approaches related to the diagnosis and the treatment of ILD in RA patients.