[Rheumatoid arthritis-associated bronchiolitis successfully treated with erythromycin].

Abstract

A 52-year-old man with a 4-year history of rheumatoid arthritis, and who had an episode of suspected BOOP in early 1994, was admitted to our hospital because of cough and fever. A chest X-ray film on admission showed small patchy infiltrates, and a computed tomographic (CT) scan showed centrilobular nodules and patchy infiltrates with thickened broncho-vascular bundles in both lungs. Transbronchial and thoracoscopic lung biopsies disclosed the coexistence of interstitial pneumonia with BOOP pattern, follicular bronchiolitis, and diffuse panbronchiolitis-like purulent and obliterative bronchiolitis. Due to findings of chronic sinusitis, the patient was treated with erythromycin for 8 weeks, and the abnormal CT shadows regressed. This was an interesting case of various pulmonary lesions associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and successfully treated with erythromycin.

• Authors: S Matsui, N Yamashita, M Narukawa, R Hayashi, Y Yoshida, N Arai, M Maruyama, M Kobayashi, M Kitagawa
• Journal: Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai zasshi = the journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society (Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi) Vol. 38 Issue 3 Pg. 195-200 (Mar 2000) ISSN: 1343-3490 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 10846401 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Erythromycin

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (complications)
• Bronchiolitis (drug therapy, etiology)
• Erythromycin (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome