Lung ultrasound to detect lung disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis
Tests lung ultrasound to screen adults with rheumatoid arthritis for lung scarring.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: dEtection of rheumAtoid aRthritis - Interstitial Lung dIseasE by Thoracic ultRasound
Key facts
- Where
- Tours, FranceSee the site
Where in France
- university hospital, ToursTours, FranceTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University Hospital, Tours
- Trial code
- NCT06235645
- Record updated
- 30 April 2026
- Original description
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can affect various organs, including the lungs, and lead to rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).Read full original descriptionShow less
dEtection of rheumAtoid aRthritis - Interstitial Lung dIseasE by Thoracic ultRasound
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can affect various organs, including the lungs, and lead to rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).
RA-ILD is responsible for increased mortality in rheumatoid arthristis (RA) patients.
The prevalence of RA-ILD varies according to the screening tool used.
The current gold standard is chest CT, but this is an expensive, time-consuming and irradiating examination, and recommendations on when and how often it should be performed are not clearly established.
Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an emerging tool for the detection of lung parenchymal damage, particularly in systemic scleroderma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
LUS is a non-irradiating, non-expensive examination that can be performed rapidly.
The aim of our study is to evaluate LUS as a screening tool for RA-ILD, in patients with risk factors for developing RA-ILD.
Inclusion: Adult patient (age > 18 years) followed at CHU of Tours; Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis validated according to ACR 2010 criteria, EULAR classification, regardless of time since diagnosis; Patient who has had or will have a thoracic CT scan and PFT performed as part of routine care in the 6 months preceding or following inclusion; Patient with at least two risk factors for developing RA-ILD among :; Male sex or; Active or former smoker assessed at 20 pack-year or; Age > 60 years or; Levels of RF≥3N (rheumatoid factor) and/or anti-CCP≥3N (antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides) at diagnosis or at any time during the course of the disease or; High RA activity score (DAS28>3.2).
Exclusion: Thoracic irradiation; Thoracic transplant patients; Parenchymal infection current or less than one month old prior to LUS examination; Diagnosis of congenital lung disease; Diagnosis of another autoimmune pathology associated with RA (overlap syndrome) linked to the development of ILD (interstitial lung disease) (systemic sclerosis, myositis, dermatomyositis, mixed connectivitis, systemic lupus erythematosus or other ANCA vasculitis, with the exception of secondary Gougerot-Sjögren's syndromes); Current or operated lung cancer; Pathologies responsible for pleural thickening (silicosis, asbestosis, known pleural plaque, pleural sequelae of tuberculosis); Previous invasive thoracic procedures; Pregnant or breast-feeding women; Patient under legal protection (guardianship, curatorship or safeguard of justice); Patient who has objected to data processing; Liquid or gaseous pleural effusion.