An epidemiological study of rheumatoid arthritis associated with characteristic chest x-ray appearances in coal-workers

Abstract

An epidemiological investigation of a syndrome in which rheumatoid arthritis is associated with characteristic chest x-ray appearances in coal-workers is described. The widespread nodular fibrosis shown in these x-ray films is radiologically distinguishable from typical progressive massive fibrosis, but the available evidence suggests that the aetiology of both types of lesion is similar. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis among cases with these characteristic chest x-ray films is over 50% among cases of P.M.F. it was found to be 3 % ; whereas no cases were found in two similar groups of miners with and without simple pneumoconiosis. The significant epidemiological, clinical, and pathological findings are given, and some possible explanations of the relationship between the “rheumatoid” lung lesions and the arthritis are discussed. © 1953, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.