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http://dx.doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2013.84.3.428

A Case of Rheumatoid Pneumoconiosis Presenting with Pleuritis and Pericarditis  

Park, Myung Soo (Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine)
Kang, Dae Gil (Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine)
Jung, Eun Ju (Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine)
Oh, Ki Jong (Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine)
Sim, Jong Seop (Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine)
Kim, Eun Jung (Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine)
Kim, Changhwan (Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine)
Publication Information
The Korean Journal of Medicine / v.84, no.3, 2013 , pp. 428-432 More about this Journal
Abstract
Caplan's syndrome is characterized by multiple small distinct nodules with progressive massive fibrosis and rheumatic arthritis in pneumoconiosis. Although pleural effusions occur infrequently as an extra-articular manifestation, pleuritis can develop without joint involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We treated an 81-year-old man who had been diagnosed with silicosis with progressive massive fibrosis. He suffered from progressive dyspnea, and chest computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography revealed pleural and pericardial effusions. We speculated that the multiple serositis was related to a rheumatic disorder because the rheumatic factor was elevated in both the pleural and pericardial effusions. After corticosteroid treatment, the serositis improved. We suggest that this case is an atypical pattern of Caplan's syndrome presenting as serositis without arthritis. Rheumatoid serositis should be considered as the cause of pleural or pericardial effusions in patients with pneumoconiosis.
Keywords
Caplan's syndrome; Silicosis; Serositis;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
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