Impact of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases on Respiratory Tract Health and Advancing Care

In autoimmune rheumatic diseases, various components of the respiratory tract, including the parenchyma, vessels, airways, muscles, and pleura, are often adversely affected, leading to conditions such as interstitial lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension that significantly influence patient prognosis. The advent of novel therapeutic agents has spurred a renewed focus on early detection and characterization of respiratory complications in these diseases. However, extensive population-based data remains lacking, complicating efforts to formulate effective management strategies and potentially slow disease progression. Furthermore, the deployment of new treatments like mepolizumab in ANCA-associated vasculitis, specifically eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), has highlighted the unexplored potential of such drugs, although real-world effectiveness data is yet to be gathered. The consensus on the necessity for multidisciplinary medical management is strong, but research into the most effective organizational models for such teamwork is still needed.

This Research Topic aims to deepen understanding of respiratory tract involvement in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, focusing on interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary hypertension, and airway involvement. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, primary Sjögren syndrome, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, systemic sclerosis, and ANCA-associated vasculitis are of particular interest. We aim to explore several key areas including the identification of biomarkers for more accurate risk assessment, optimal strategies for multidisciplinary patient management, and efficacy of specific treatment protocols involving anti-fibrotic and immunosuppressive therapies among others.

To gather further insights in this crucial area of medical research, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Defining biomarkers for early detection of respiratory complications
• Strategies for effective multidisciplinary follow-up in clinical practice
• Detailed analysis of treatment regimens combining anti-fibrotic and immunosuppressive drugs
• Characterization of radiological features specific to rheumatic disease-related interstitial lung disease
• Prevalence and detailed study of pulmonary hypertension outside of systemic sclerosis
• Early diagnosis and management of EGPA in patients being treated for severe asthma

All article types, including Original Research, Reviews, and Opinion articles, are invited for consideration to enrich the understanding and management of respiratory complications in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Keywords: Interstitial Lung Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, Primary Sjogren Syndrome, Systemic Sclerosis, EGPA, Nodules, Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.