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Can Ankylosing Spondylitis Cause Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Question: Hello, thank you for your time! I have been suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis for about 30 years, am fully fused and am being treated for pain/anxiety. Also quit smoking about 3 months ago. Been hospitalized twice recently for collapsing. My SPO2 is around 97 when sitting still, but drops very low (75) after only a minute of being ambulatory. I'm on O2 (2 lpm) at night and whenever ambulatory.
Brief Answer:
Possibility of pulmonary fibrosis is more.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is autoimmune rheumatoid disease.
It is systemic disease which can affect lungs, heart, kidney etc.
In lungs, it causes pulmonary fibrosis.
Your symptoms like hypoxia on minimal exertion, normal Spo2 in sitting still etc are suggestive more of Pulmonary Fibrosis.
So you need PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) and HRCT (high resolution CT) thorax to diagnose this.
If pulmonary fibrosis is confirmed then you will need Perfinodone and N acetyl cystine (NAC).
You should also start Treatment for AS like infliximab, methotrexate etc after consulting your rheumatologist.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these and get done PFT and HRCT thorax to rule out pulmonary fibrosis.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Possibility of pulmonary fibrosis is more.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is autoimmune rheumatoid disease.
It is systemic disease which can affect lungs, heart, kidney etc.
In lungs, it causes pulmonary fibrosis.
Your symptoms like hypoxia on minimal exertion, normal Spo2 in sitting still etc are suggestive more of Pulmonary Fibrosis.
So you need PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) and HRCT (high resolution CT) thorax to diagnose this.
If pulmonary fibrosis is confirmed then you will need Perfinodone and N acetyl cystine (NAC).
You should also start Treatment for AS like infliximab, methotrexate etc after consulting your rheumatologist.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these and get done PFT and HRCT thorax to rule out pulmonary fibrosis.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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