Pulmonary Function Test in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients without Extra Articular Manifestations

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of the commonest Auto immune disorder affecting females commonly and smoking males. Asians are more proned. HLA DR4 is the MHC involved. The triggering factors are smoking, porphyromonas gingivalis (bacteria) and post mycoplasma pneumonia. In RA, there occurs Acute synovitis in the early followed by chronic synovitis and finally to erosive arthritis which is irreversible. The mechanism is mediated by release of all proteolytic enzymes causing fibrous deposition and finally leading to ankylosis which is a fixed deformity. One of the important extraarticular manifestation is involvement of pulmonary system. The manifestations observed so far are pleuritis followed by transudate pleural effusion and interstitial lung disease (particularly smokers). Hence a PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST is carried among the affected individuals of Rheumatoid Arthritis to get a inference. The detailed analysis of this test help us in understanding the incidence of pulmonary manifestation of rheumatoid arthristis, its effect on respiratory volumes and aid us in further management. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To know the incidence of pulmonary manifestation of Rheumatoid Arthritis. 2. To know its effects over pulmonary system. 3. To assess further improvement in treating our patients. METHODOLOGY: This prospective cross sectional study is carried out in RHEUMATOID ARTHRIATIS patients (clinically and serologically confirmed) with respect to inclusion and exclusion criteria, who attend the Rheumatology outpatient clinic or in General Medicine ward of Tirunelveli Medical College and Hospital between April 2010 and April 2019Written informed consent was obtained from the patients selected for the study. They have been elaborated history and subjected to clininal examination. Routine investigations and RA factor were done. Then the patient subjected to perform Pulmonary function testing in the Thoracic Department Tirunelveli Medical College. RESULTS: Out of 100 patients studied 83% were females and 17% were ...