A case of rheumatoid arthritis in which multiple pulmonary rheumatoid nodules preceded joint symptoms
Haruka Takenakaa,b Keiki Yokooa,b Koji Katob,c Gen Yamadaa Hiroki Takahashic Yasuo Kitamurab
aDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Teine Keijinkai Hospital
bDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Municipal Kushiro General Hospital
cDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sapporo Medical University
A 66-year-old man was admitted to Municipal Kushiro General Hospital for examination of abnormal shadowing on chest X-ray film. The chest computed tomography showed multiple nodules in both lungs. We suspected a metastatic lung tumor and performed transbronchial lung biopsy several times. However, there was no evidence of malignancy. After that, the size of the nodules increased gradually. To obtain a diagnosis, surgical biopsy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed. Pathological findings showed fibrinoid necrosis with surrounding palisading granuloma. During the follow-up period, arthralgia emerged with elevation of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody levels. We diagnosed him as having rheumatoid arthritis with pulmonary rheumatoid nodules. After bucillamine was prescribed, the size of the nodules enlarged. Therefore, a low dose of prednisolone was prescribed in addition to bucillamine, and the nodules decreased. This case suggests prednisolone was effective in the treatment of pulmonary rheumatoid nodules.
Rheumatoid arthritis Pulmonary rheumatoid nodules Prednisolone
Received 18 Sep 2019 / Accepted 29 Jan 2020
AJRS, 9(3): 196-199, 2020