A study involving 2,507 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients revealed that a blood protein-derived biomarker score can predict the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD). In high-risk patients, nearly 20% developed ILD within 15 years, compared to less than 10% in low-risk patients. Researchers combined eight proteins linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to create a composite score, which, alongside factors like age and smoking history, improved ILD risk prediction. However, predictive limitations and a potentially unrepresentative sample population were noted.

Source: Arthritis and Rheumatology