Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Bronchiolitis obliterans, with or without organizing pneumonia, can be a serious and life-threatening complication of rheumatoid arthritis. We describe a case of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia in a patient who recently developed rheumatoid arthritis, presenting as a severe respiratory insufficiency. Diagnosis was made by means of open lung biopsy. Treatment with corticosteroids induced a quick response and substantial improvement of the respiratory symptoms. A simultaneous strong rise in titres of serological tests suggests a relationship between the bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and the rheumatoid arthritis.