Pulmonary manifestations of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. A report of eight cases and review.

Pleuropulmonary disease was seen in 4 per cent of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Roentgenographic abnormalities seen in association with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis include: transient pneumonitis, interstitial reticular and nodular infiltrates, pleural and pericardial effusions, and patchy pleural infiltrates. Pathologic abnormalities seen in association with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis include pulmonary hemosiderosis, lymphoid follicular bronchiolitis, and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis. Patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and pleural disease recover fully. In children with parenchymal disease, residual abnormalities include roentgenographic evidence of interstitial fibrosis and minimal abnormalities of pulmonary function.