[Rheumatoid arthritis-associated bronchiolitis successfully treated with erythromycin]

Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi. 2000 Mar;38(3):195-200.
[Article in Japanese]

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Erythromycin