Massive cavitary pulmonary rheumatoid nodules in a patient with HIV.

The case of a 52-yr-old female with rheumatoid arthritis and HIV who developed massive, progressive, cavitary pulmonary nodules is described. Multiple diagnostic bronchoscopies and lung biopsies failed to demonstrate the presence of any microorganisms. Pathological analysis showed palisading histiocytes with necrobiosis consistent with rheumatoid nodules. The effect of co-existing HIV infection on the course and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis is discussed, and it is concluded that the complex relationship between these two disease processes warrants further investigation.