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Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases logoLink to Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
. 1993 Nov;52(11):776–779. doi: 10.1136/ard.52.11.776

Bronchiectasis and rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical study.

M J McMahon 1, D R Swinson 1, S Shettar 1, R Wolstenholme 1, C Chattopadhyay 1, P Smith 1, P Johns 1, N H Crosby 1
PMCID: PMC1005187  PMID: 8250608

Abstract

OBJECTIVES--To examine the relation between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and bronchiectasis (BR). METHODS--Disease activity, outcome, extra-articular manifestations, and laboratory features were compared in 32 patients with BR and RA (RA-BR group), 32 matched patients with RA without BR (RA group), and 31 patients with BR but without arthritis (BR group). RESULTS--In 30 of the 32 (94%) patients with RA-BR, BR preceded RA. There was no functional or radiological difference between the RA-BR and RA groups, and except for xerophthalmia, which was more common in patients with RA-BR than patients with RA, there was no difference in extra-articular or laboratory features. CONCLUSIONS--Bronchiectasis does not lead to a more aggressive disease course in RA and, despite the recognised association, BR is not an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid disease.

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Selected References

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