Typical clinical features of RA include symmetrical, deforming small and large joint polyarthritis, associated with systemic disorder FVC, FEV 1 and FEV 1/ FVC % in Rheumatoid Arthritic Female and their Relationships with Duration of the Disease FarzanaYesmin 1 ,Shelina Begum 2 , Sultana Ferdousi 3 Abstract Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disorder mediated through the immune system, affecting joints and various organs including lungs. Pulmonary dysfunction in RA patients has been reported. Objective: To observe FVC, FEV 1 and FEV 1/ FVC % in female patients of RA and their relationships with duration of the disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka, from January to December 2009 on 90 RA female patients of 30-50 years age (Group B). For comparison, 30 age and BMI matched apparently healthy subjects (Group A) were also studied. According to the duration of disease, RA patients were subdivided into B 1 (newly diagnosed), B 2 (3-5 years ) and B 3 (6-10 years ). They were selected from the Out Patient Department of Physical Medicine of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. FVC, FEV 1 and FEV 1 /FVC% of all the subjects were measured by a digital MicroDL spirometer. Results were expressed as percent of predicted value. For statistical analysis One-Way ANOVA, Unpaired Student’s ‘t’ test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test were performed, as required. Results: The mean percentage of predicted values of these lung function parameters in the healthy female subjects and newly diagnosed (B 1 ) RA patients were within normal ranges. The mean percentage of predicted values of all the spirometric variables were significantly lower in the patients in B 3 compared to those in B 2 (FVC p<0.01, FEV 1 p<0.01), B 1 (FVC p<0.05, FEV 1 p<0.05, FEV 1 /FVC% p< 0.001) and A (FVC p<0.01, FEV 1 p<0.001, FEV 1 /FVC% p<0.001), except FEV 1 /FVC% in B 3 vs B 2 which was lower but nonsignificant. Again these same parameters were significantly lower in B 2 in comparison to B 1 (FVC p<0.001, FEV 1 p<0.001, FEV 1 /FVC% p< 0.001) and A (FVC p<0.001, FEV 1 p<0.05, FEV 1 / FVC% p<0.001). In addition all the ventilatory variables had significant (p<0.001) negative correlation with durations of disease except FVC in B 1 , which was significant at p<0.01 level. Conclusion: This study reveals that pulmonary functions may be lower in patients of RA and the lung function is inversely related to the duration of disease. Key Words: FVC; FEV 1 , Rheumatoid Arthritis J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2010 June; 5(1): 8-13 For author affiliations, see end of text. http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JBSP Introduction heumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disorder mediated through the immune system. R and extra-articular features 1 . Women are 2 to 3 times more affected than men. Onset may be at any age, most frequently occur between 35 to 50 year 2 . The etiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis is still unknown, but there is evidence for genetic predisposition to the disease 3 . A good number Article 8 J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2010 June; 5(1): 8-13