Rheumatoid arthritis and small airways function

✍ Scribed by J. D. Mountz; R. A. Turner; R. L. Collins; K. R. Gallup Jr.; E. L. Semble

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 802 KB
• Volume: 27
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780270702

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The sensitive pulmonary function tests of change in maximum expiratory flow (ΔV~max~ 50) and volume of isoflow were used to determine the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), smoking, and α‐antitrypsin deficiency phenotypes on peripheral airways. Patients were prospectively divided into 4 groups: 14 smokers with RA, 12 nonsmokers with RA, 11 smokers without RA, and 13 nonsmokers without RA. ΔV~max~ 50 was the most discriminating variable and demonstrated significant small airway obstructive disease in the first 3 groups, with an additive effect in the group of smokers with RA. An increased incidence of the α‐antitrypsin‐deficient MS phenotype was seen in the RA smoker group, and this phenotype was associated with severe pulmonary disease.