NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with untreated early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) show signs of immune activation and local inflammation in their bronchial tissues, researchers from Sweden report. Previous studies have shown that patients with RA have shared citrullinated epitopes in the lungs and joints, as well as anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), suggesting…
IBD Tied to Higher Risk of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at slightly increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), according to Danish researchers. In a paper online Sept. 8 in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, Bjørn Kantsø of Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen and colleagues note that the inappropriate immune response against infective agents seen in…
Lungs Are Particularly Vulnerable in Patients with Systemic Rheumatic Disease
In an observational study, physicians found that systemic rheumatic disease exacerbation and treatment-related infections were often related to the lungs…
Inspiratory Muscle Training Boosts Lung Strength in Ankylosing Spondylitis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Inspiratory muscle training can help improve aerobic capacity and pulmonary function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to new findings presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress. “Inspiratory muscle training as a stand-alone therapy improves inspiratory muscle function (strength and endurance), decreases symptoms of dyspnea and improves exercise capacity,”…
Coding Corner Answers: January
Proper coding for cases of drug-induced gout, systemic lupus erythematosus with lung involvement, inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis
Coding Corner Questions: January
Coding cases of drug-induced gout, systemic lupus erythematosus with lung involvement, inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis