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Updated: Jun 8, 2025

A Pleural Effusion Model in Rats by Intratracheal Instillation of Polyacrylate/Nanosilica
Published on: April 12, 2019
Rheumatoid arthritis associated recurrent pleural effusion
Ramsha Abbas1, Muhammad Ahmed Khan1, Anthony El Khoury2
1Department of Internal Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USA.
Abstract:
Pleural effusions and pulmonary nodules are known complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) though pleural extra-articular manifestations without clinical arthritis are rare. We present a 66-year-old male with dyspnea and weight loss, whose imaging revealed pleural effusions and lung nodules, multiple exudative pleural effusions, and a thoracoscopic biopsy showing chronic pleuritis and granulomatous inflammation. Subsequent joint stiffness and positive rheumatoid markers led to a RA diagnosis. Patient received prednisone and methotrexate, leading to symptomatic improvement but with recurrent pleural effusions, requiring regular thoracenteses. RA can cause pleural effusions and lung nodules without arthritis necessitating advanced treatments for persistent effusions.
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