Rheumatoid arthritis and chronic bronchial suppuration

Twenty-two patients with rheumatoid arthritis and severe chronic bronchial suppuration are described. In 11 patients the respiratory symptoms appeared after the onset of arthritis at an unusually late age. We discuss causes for the disease association, in particular the possibility that disease modifying drugs in rheumatoid arthritis may predispose to the development of chronic bronchial suppuration; such a possibility requires prospective investigation.