Bronchiolitis Obliterans

[jsterCU]

Hello.  My mother has been recently diagnosed (through CT) with bronchiolitis obliterans, although it has not yet been confirmed through lung biopsy.  I have a couple questions I was hoping you could help us answer, as I have read some very different and scary prognoses on the web.  If you can help, we would really appreciate it.

1) Her spirometry came back normal, which I think is a good sign but doesn't poor results on the spirometry usually help to diagnose BO?  Also she often has a slight fever (100-100.8), is that indicitive of BO?  

2) She has rheumathoid arthritis (and has had it for about 15 years), which is likely the cause--but she also has taken methotrexate and is currently on remicade for treatment.  Is BO caused by arthritis usually a worse form to have, or does it matter?

3) What treatments are currently used other than Prednisone, or is that the main first try?

Anyway, I have lots more questions, but want to keep it brief as I'm sure you all are extremely busy. Again, I really appreciate any info you may have.

Thank you,

Justin

[AustinJulie]

Have they double checked her for infiltrates?  I was on Methotrexate and Remicade for RA and had respiratory failure due to interstitial infiltrates.  

The fact that her spirometry is normal is odd.  Why is she being seen by pulmonologist?  Does she have other lung symptoms like shortness of breath?  

The reason I'm checking in about BO is that I've just been diagnosed with it myself.  My spirometry is 50% of expected capacity, I have a normal chest xray, my CT shows both mosaics and polyps and I pronounced shortness of breath.  You're right about the prognosis; it is grim.  I'm prepared for the worst with this manifestation of my underlying inflammatory illness.