Two biomarkers were detected by researchers in the serum of rheumatoid arthritis patients who were developing complications of interstitial lung disease.

Interstitial lung disease is one of the most serious complications of RA. Patients who have symptomatic disease have three times the risk of death compared with RA patients without pulmonary involvement, and the mortality rate is rising. Clinically apparent lung disease afflicts about 10% of patients, but up to 55% of patients have changes detectable on high resolution CT.