Abstract

Aim Systemic rheumatic disease (SRD) may affect all the components of the pulmonary system. This study was designed to investigate the frequency and pattern of pulmonary involvement of systemic collagen tissue diseases. Material and Methods A total of 128 patients -44 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 8 with giant cell arteritis, 14 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 8 with juvenile chronic arthritis, 24 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 6 with scleroderma, 12 with Behcet’s disease, 4 with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), 4 with polymyositis and 4 with dermatomyositis- who had presented to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation/Rheumatology between January 2007 and December 2008 were included in the study. All the patients were informed about the study in detail and all gave written consent before enrollment. HRCT was performed in all patients. Results Pulmonary involvement was detected in 21 patients with RA (48%), in 8 patients with SLE (57%), in 16 patients with AS (67%), in 4 patients with scleroderma (67%), and in 4 patients with MCTD (50%). No pulmonary involvement was observed in patients with Behçet’s disease, polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Conclusions Our results suggest that patients with SRD may present with pulmonary involvement in varying degrees. Pulmonary symptoms may be underdiagnosed due to limited capacity of exercise secondary to musculoskeletal involvement. Therefore, a routine pulmonary X-ray should be performed in the process of the diagnosis and prior to treatment, even in the lack of complaints suggesting pulmonary involvement. Further investigations including HRCT should be performed if needed.

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