A 69-Year-Old Man With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pleural Effusion

Abstract

Case Presentation

A 69-year-old male with a history of ongoing tobacco use and long-standing history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis on chronic immunosuppressive therapy (daily hydroxychloroquine, weekly methotrexate with etanercept) presented to the outpatient clinic with 6 weeks of weight loss, cough, and malaise. There was no history of recent infections, hospitalizations, or other significant changes to his health other than having a 3-month lapse in his rheumatoid arthritis medications due to prescription filling issues.