Biomedicines (Jun 2023)

Better Safe than Sorry: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Medication—A Narrative Review

  • Iulia-Tania Andronache,
  • Victoria-Cristina Şuţa,
  • Maria Şuţa,
  • Sabina-Livia Ciocodei,
  • Liliana Vladareanu,
  • Alina Doina Nicoara,
  • Oana Cristina Arghir

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061755
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 6
p. 1755

Abstract

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It is well known that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at an increased risk of developing non-infectious pulmonary complications, especially interstitial lung disease (ILD); however, the clinician must keep in mind that lung disease could not only be a manifestation of the underlying condition, but also a consequence of using disease-modifying therapies. New-onset ILD or ILD worsening has also been reported as a possible consequence of both conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic agents. This study is a narrative review of the current literature regarding the potential risk of developing interstitial lung disease along with the administration of specific drugs used in controlling rheumatoid arthritis. Its purpose is to fill knowledge gaps related to this challenging patient cohort by addressing various aspects of the disease, including prevalence, disease features, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes.

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