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Is Fibrosis A Cause For Concern When Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Posted on Wed, 2 Dec 2015

Question: Is fibrosis
Serious in rheumatoid arthritis ? Female aged 65 and due to start methotraxate .

No symptoms of lungs at present except muscle joint pain alot

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Side effects of methotrexate

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well, it is a very rare side effect of Methotrexate. Fibrosis is not so common and there is nothing you need to be scared of before starting methotrexate.

The only side effects which we monitor with methotrexate are the liver function. It does affect the lungs rarely, but it is more of an acute reaction( Less than 1 % patients) than a long term complication like fibrosis. Even the lungs affected due to Rheumatoid Arthritis( untreated) respond well to methotrexate

So all in all a safe drug. We have patients who have been taking it for more than 5 years without a problem.

HOpe the information was useful

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (43 minutes later)

Its not
The drug im
Worired about. Is fobrosis of lungs serious ?

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Lung fibrosis

Detailed Answer:
good evening

well,yes it a bit serious if the fibrosis happens in the lung as that part can't be repaired/healed. it hampers the oxygen exchange and hence can cause cough and shortness of breath..it increases the morbidity. in advanced stages increases the pressure on heart as well

but if intervened early, we can halt the progression

I hope it answers your query

do let me know any more doubts. would be happy to help out

regards
dr naval.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (40 minutes later)

There are no symptoms at all
Though. Can this be possible? Therr is only alot of joint pains

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Lung fibrosis

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Well, if you have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis and you leave it untreated then it does start affecting the lungs, where it can cause Fibrosis. But if you take proper treatment for now, there is a very less chance it will damage the lungs.

But yes, age related fibrosis can affect anyone. It is always difficult to say who will get it or not. That is something one cant predict anything about.

What you can avoid is the fibrosis due to rheumatoid arthritis. It is preventable

Do let me know for more queries. Would be happy to help out

REgards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (3 hours later)

Thanks . What is prognosis like ? Is it poor ? I read u can only survive up to 5 years

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Interstial lung Disease

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Interstial Lung disease are of 20 variants and the prongosis depends on the type of variant you have. 5 years is mostly for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.( worst variety)

The one related to Rheumatoid Arthritis is usually NSIP pattern with a good prognosis with a good survival for more than 10-15 years.

So, if you could message me your CT report and the Pulmonary Function tests report, it would be helpful and I can guide you further.

Await your reply

Regards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (1 hour later)

They only have done a chest xray and the word they used is fibrosis in lungs so is this the poor prognosis one u think?

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Lung fibrosis

Detailed Answer:
good evening

I think it is very premature to label it as fibrosis on x Ray. We can't say about poor prognosis on X rays alone

Since you don't have any symptoms I won't call it for poor prognosis either.

the best investigation still remains Chest CT...it will tell us the extent of the involvement, type of fibrosis and the exact prognosis. Also pulmonary function tests will give us the status of your lungs. I would suggest you carry those 2 out to know what exactly is the status of the lungs.

hope the information was useful

do let me know for more queries. would be happy to help out

regards
dr naval

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj