[Interstitial pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Analysis by bronchoalveolar lavage]

We analyzed the results of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 14 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Ten patients had total cell counts above 10 x 10(6)/100 ml and or more than 10% lymphocytes in differential counts. 40% of patients with normal clinical findings on pulmonary examination and normal A-a O2 gradients had abnormal BAL findings. These findings support the theory that pulmonary fibrosis in patients with RA may start with alveolitis, probably a lymphocytic type in 60% of cases. BAL may help early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.