[Pulmonary fibrosis in ankylosing spondylitis. Five new cases (author's transl)]

Abstract

The most common thoracic finding in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is ankylosis of the costovertebral joints with severe limitation of chest expansion inducing a restrictive syndrome pleural and pulmonary fibrosis can occur during the course of the disease. One-hundred record of patients with AS were reviewed. Five had pleuro-pulmonary involvement. This always included pachypleuritis, usually apical. Roentgenographic pulmonary changes were infiltrates or fibrobullous lesions. Pulmonary function tests showed restriction in four cases, obstruction in one case, and a decreased diffusing capacity in all five cases.