Assessing predictors of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease using quantitative lung densitometry

Michail K. Alevizos, Sonye K. Danoff, Dimitrios A. Pappas, David J. Lederer, Cheilonda Johnson, Eric A. Hoffman, Elana J. Bernstein, Joan M. Bathon, Jon T. Giles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To assess predictors of subclinical RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) using quantitative lung densitometry (qLD). Methods: RA patients underwent multi-detector row CT scanning at baseline and after an average of 39 months. Scans were analysed with qLD for the percentage of lung parenchyma with high attenuation areas (%HAA: the percentage of voxels of -600 to -250 Hounsfield units). Additionally, a pulmonary radiologist calculated an expert radiologist scoring (ERS) for RA-ILD features. Generalized linear models were used to identify indicators of baseline %HAA and predictors of %HAA change. Results: Baseline %HAA was assessed in 193 RA patients and 106 had repeat qLD assessment. %HAA was correlated with ERS (Spearman's rho = 0.261; P < 0.001). Significant indicators of high baseline %HAA (>10% of lung parenchyma with high attenuation) included female sex, higher pack-years of smoking, higher BMI and anti-CCP ≥200 units, collectively contributing an area under the receiver operator curve of 0.88 (95% CI 0.81, 0.95). Predictors of %HAA increase, occurring in 49% with repeat qLD, included higher baseline %HAA, presence of mucin 5B (MUC5B) minor allele and absence of HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (area under the receiver operator curve = 0.69; 95% CI 0.58, 0.79). The association of the MUC5B minor allele with %HAA change was higher among men and those with higher cumulative smoking. Within the group with increased %HAA, anti-CCP level was significantly associated with a greater increase in %HAA. Conclusions: %HAA, assessed with qLD, was linked to several known risk factors for RA-ILD and may represent a more quantitative method to identify RA-ILD and track progression than expert radiologist interpretation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2792-2804
Number of pages13
JournalRheumatology (United Kingdom)
Volume61
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2022

Keywords

  • RA
  • computed tomography
  • interstitial lung disease
  • pulmonary fibrosis
  • rheumatoid lung

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology (medical)
  • Rheumatology

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