Morphologic and quantitative assessment of CD20+ B cell infiltrates in rheumatoid arthritis–associated nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and usual interstitial pneumonia

Abstract

We demonstrated a significant follicular B cell hyperplasia in RA-associated IP. The differences between RA-associated IP and idiopathic IP imply a differential emphasis of B cell-mediated mechanisms in the 2 diseases despite radiologic and histologic similarities and provide a rationale for studying functional aspects of B cell involvement in the pathogenesis of RA-associated IP.