Caplans syndrome (patient information)

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

Caplan syndrome commonly happens in coal miners with Rheumatoid arthritis. This is a combination of Rheumatoid arthritis and pneumoconiosis.

What are the signs and symptoms of Caplan Syndrome

Caplan syndrome is commonly found in coal miners with rheumatoid arthritis.

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Painful joints
• Morning stiffness
• Tender, swollen metacarpophalangeal joints and proximal interphalangeal joints
• Rheumatoid nodules
• Wheeze and crackles in lung auscultation

Who is at Highest Risk?

1. Miners with pneumoconiosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Diagnosis

1. Chest X ray showing rheumatoid nodules in lungs which are seen as rounded opacities of 0.5-5 cm resembling cavitating lesions or tuberculosis.

2. Pleural effusion may present.

3. Pulmonary function test shows mixed restrictive and obstructive features, total loss of lung volumes, decreased capacity for diffusion of carbon monoxide.

4. Rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies might be present in serum study.

Treatment Options

1. Exclude Tuberculosis.

2. If TB is excluded , Steroid is the treatment of choice

3. Smoking cessation.

4. Stop exposure to coal dust.

5. DMARDS are the treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis.

Where to find Medical Care for (Disease name)?

Medical care for (disease name) can be found here.

Prevention

1. Miners with diagnosed pneumoconiosis should be advised to change profession.

2. All healthy miners and other professionals who get exposed to inorganic dust should get chest x ray, Lung function tests done in every 1-3 years.

3. Encourage smoking cessation in miners and related professionals who are at risk.

What to Expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Prognosis is mostly as Rheumatoid Arthritis. Lung disease can be spontaneously cured except lung fibrosis might progress.

Possible Complications

In severe cases, pulmonary fibrosis progress to advanced stages and cause irreversible damage to lung tissues.

Lung fibrosis presents with restrictive lung disease features as chronic cough and shortness of breath.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000434.htm