Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

The diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is often delayed in people with more severe arthritis because they're usually more limited by their joint di sease rather than their respiratory symptoms.

Testing for interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis

To determine a diagnosis, specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease at UPMC will:

• Do a pulmonary function test to provide an indication of lung function.
• Take a high resolution CT scan of the chest

Other procedures may include:

• Bronchoscopy with broncho-alveolar lavage — to ensure that an infectious process does not account for the changes seen on imaging studies, such as a CT scan. This procedure involves the inserti on of a thin, flexible instrument into the trachea after topical anesthesia, and the wash and collection of fluids and cells from the airspaces of the lung.
• Surgical lung biopsy — occasionally, surgical lung biopsy is necessary to diagnose ILD or to determine the pattern of scarring, which helps us decide on the most appropriate treatment.

Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis testing

From our Health Library:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Exams and Tests
• Pulmonary Function Tests
• Bronchoscopy

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Treatments

Treatment regimens for interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with rheumatoid arthritis vary.

Medical therapy of ILD associated with RA is complex and depends, in large part, on the pattern of lung scarring that accounts for the lung disease.

At UPMC, our specialists are dedicated to providing treatments that:

• Relieve pain
• Reduce inflammation
• Decrease joint damage
• Improve functional ability

When the disease progresses, despite medical therapy, lung transplantation remains a viable option for some people.

UPMC’s Lung Transplantation Program is nationally renowned. Our experts have performed more than 1,400 lung transplants since the program’s inception.

Doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease at UPMC and UPMC Arthritis and Autoimmunity Center work closely with members of the Lung Transplant team to refer patients for evaluation, when the time is right.

Learn more about treatments for rheumatoid arthritis

From our Health Library:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Overview