Rui Santos (Portugal)
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra Internal MedicineAuthor of 1 Presentation
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND BRONCHIECTASIS
Abstract
Background and Aims
BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be associated with bronchiectasis (BQ). The mechanism underlying this association remains unknown. We aimed to characterize the patients with RA and BQ and in particular the relevance of the presence of antibodies to citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA).
Methods
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, case-control study, including baseline data from 80 patients with diagnosis of RA that were in hospital clinical records from January 2018 to December 2019. 20 patients with RA and BQ were selected and 60 controls were randomized.
Results
RESULTS: The mean age was 65±11 years; there was a predominance of female (71%) patients. Mean age of diagnosis of RA was 55±13 years and the mean age of diagnosis of BQ was 71±9 years. There was a significant association between the presence of ACPA and BQ (p =0.001). 13% of all patients had respiratory infections; there was an association with biologic treatment (p=0.0034) but there was no association between the presence of BQ and respiratory infections (p=0.258).
Conclusions
CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of BQ occurred, in mean, 16 years later after the diagnosis of RA. The presence of ACPA was related with the development of BQ. In patients with BQ, the prevalence of respiratory infections was not increased.