Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia as initial presentation of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

The case of a 65 year old woman who was diagnosed with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (NOC) as a first manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patient subsequently developed cough and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography showed parenchymal opacities with air bronchogram in the upper lobes. Eight weeks later, he presented clinical and serological criteria for RA, NOC diagnosis by open lung biopsy, with excellent clinical and radiological response to treatment with corticosteroids.