Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Lung Disease Study

Extra-articular (outside of joints) disease occurs in approximately 50% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, with the lung being a common site of involvement. The purpose of this study is to characterize the prevalence and classification of lung disease in participants with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis by prospectively gathering information on lung imaging and function, comorbidities and novel biomarkers, such as anti-malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA). Specifically, the study would determine whether (MAA) adduct antibody concentrations predict computed tomography (CT) changes consistent with RA-lung involvement and determine whether anti-MAA antibody concentrations predict pulmonary function abnormalities in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO). An additional goal is to develop a cohort of newly diagnosed RA patients who can be followed long-term through electronic medical record (EMR) surveys, and biobank samples.