Caplan’s syndrome

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Respiratory system

Caplan's syndrome is inflammation and scarring of the lungs in people with rheumatoid arthritis who have been exposed to coal dust.

Rheumatoid pneumoconiosis

Inhalation of coal dust causes inflammation and scarring of the lung. Persons with rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to develop larger areas of inflammation and scarring in response to coal dust. Caplan's syndrome is very rare in the USA.

Review Date: 08/10/2005
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.