ABSTRACT Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by symmetrical erosive synovitis and progressive disability, often complicated by extra-articular manifestations especially in seropositive patients, among them, lung involvement is common, and it can include a wide spectrum of disorders, ranging from airways, pleural disease, bronchiectasis, lung nodules, to infection.
Aim of the Work: The aim of this study is to assess HRCT Chest and spirometry test findings in RA Egyptian patients, and their relationship to Methotrexate therapy, disease duration, and activity.
Patients and Methods: This was a cross sectional study which was done on 50 RA patients diagnosed according to Rheumatoid Arthritis - 2010 American college of rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism (ACR-EULAR) attending rheumatology and chest inpatient departments and outpatient clinics in Ain Shams University Hospitals.
Results: Patients were divided into two equal groups: Group A: - 25 RA patients treated with MTX only +/- low dose steroid. Group B: - 25 MTX naive RA patients (treated with DMARDs other than MTX) +/- low dose steroid.
Conclusion: We found MTX has no role in RA-ILD, there is no significant difference between MTX users and MTX naïve regarding spirometry and HR-CT.