Abstract

Davies, D. (1973).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 396-401. Treatment of rapidly progressive rheumatoid pneumoconiosis. Rheumatoid pneumoconiosis is often a fairly benign condition but in some patients it progresses rapidly and causes severe disability. One patient with rheumatoid pneumoconiosis was treated with chloroquine followed by corticosteroids, and another patient was treated with corticosteroids only. Both showed considerable symptomatic and objective improvement with radiographic regression. Treatment has been continued for five and six years respectively but some progression of the disease has again occurred over this time and with a reduced dose of corticosteroids.