Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39883304›Full record

ArticleClinical rheumatology2025

ACPA is a main risk factor for CT-proven pulmonary nodule progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Güllü Sandal Uzun, Yasin Sarıkaya, Sevtap Arslan, Mustafa Ekici, Emine Büşra Ata, Oğuz Karcıoğlu, Emre Bilgin, Levent Kılıç, Sedat Kiraz, Ali İhsan Ertenli and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical rheumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Pulmonary Rheumatoid Nodules: A Case Report.Respirology case reports · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Güllü Sandal UzunFaculty of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. gullusandaluzun@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5010-9114
Yasin SarıkayaFaculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Sevtap ArslanFaculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Mustafa EkiciFaculty of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Emine Büşra AtaFaculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Oğuz KarcıoğluFaculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Emre BilginFaculty of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Levent KılıçFaculty of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Sedat KirazFaculty of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Ali İhsan ErtenliFaculty of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Macit ArıyürekFaculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Umut KalyoncuFaculty of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine the features of rheumatoid pulmonary nodules and the factors associated with nodule progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

methodsBetween January 2010 and September 2018, RA patients with at least one chest computed tomography (CT) were included. Two experienced radiologists examined chest CTs. Nodules with changing dimensions on follow-up or at least two nodules with different sizes or cavitary nodules were considered rheumatoid pulmonary nodules. To identify follow-up changes in the nodules, progression was defined as the appearance of any new nodules or increase in the size of the nodules, regression was no new nodules and no increase in the size of any nodules and decrease in the size of at least one nodule, and stability was no appearance of new nodules and no change in the size of nodules and no disappearance of the nodule. We compared the demographics, comorbidities, RA-specific treatments, and nodule characteristics according to seropositivity. Factors that may be associated with RPN progression were studied.

resultsA total of 204 (136 (66.7%) female) patients were included in the study. The median disease duration at baseline CT was 7.29 years (0.05-57.5). Pulmonary nodules were detected in the first CT of 21 (10.2%) patients before RA diagnosis, with a median time of 10.38 (0.46-254) months. The median number of nodules and median diameter of the dominant nodule were higher, and cavitation was more prevalent in seropositive patients. ACPA positivity was independently associated with progression (OR 3.69 (1.33-12.4), p = 0.03). Cs-DMARDs and b/ts-DMARDs, especially anti-TNF agents, did not affect nodule progression.

conclusionRheumatoid pulmonary nodules may precede RA, and seropositivity, especially ACPA, is an important independent risk factor for RPN occurrence and progression. Key Points • Rheumatoid pulmonary nodules were mainly located peripherally, in the right lobe, and had a high cavitation rate. • ACPA positivity was found as a main effective factor in RPN progression. • Cs/b-DMARD treatments were not associated with RPN progression.

Indexed as

Anti-Citrullinated Protein AntibodiesArthritis, RheumatoidMultiple Pulmonary NodulesRheumatoid NoduleAdultAgedDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsTomography, X-Ray ComputedAnti-Citrullinated Protein AntibodiesAnti-citrullinated protein antibodiesDisease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)Pulmonary nodulesRheumatoid arthritis

Identifiers

PMID39883304
PMCPMC11865109

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.