Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Although the joints are typically the first area affected in RA, it can also involve extra-articular regions. This article provides an overview on rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), a component of the disease manifestations leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Managing these pulmonary symptoms in people with RA poses a number of difficulties for medical professionals. In this review article, we shed light on the prevalence of RA-ILD and the common pulmonary manifestations of RA, while focusing on the evolving pathogenesis concepts that link them to RA's autoimmune cascade. We also address the diagnostic challenges and the available screening modalities that aid in the early recognition and effective management of these pulmonary complications. Furthermore, glucocorticoids, disease-modifying antirheumatic medications, immunosuppressive medications, and biological agents are among the pharmacological approaches that have been explored in this review study.