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Does imaging help find interstitial lung disease in psoriatic arthritis patients?

high confidence  ·  Last reviewed May 13, 2026

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of lung conditions that cause scarring and inflammation in the tissue around the air sacs. It is not a classic complication of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but recent research shows it may be more common than doctors once thought. Imaging — particularly computed tomography (CT) or high-resolution CT (HRCT) — is the key tool for finding ILD in people with PsA. Studies that use imaging find ILD much more often than those that rely on symptoms or other tests alone.

What the research says

A 2026 meta-analysis pooled data from six studies covering over 14,000 PsA patients and found that the overall rate of ILD was about 3% 311. However, when researchers looked only at studies that used CT or HRCT to diagnose ILD, the rate jumped to 6% 311. In contrast, studies that did not use imaging found ILD in only about 1% of patients 311. This difference is statistically significant, meaning imaging truly picks up more cases. A separate 2024 study of 247 PsA patients who all had chest CT or HRCT found ILD in 3.6% of them, confirming that imaging detects ILD in a small but meaningful number of people 9. Another 2024 study of psoriasis patients (including those with PsA) found ILD in 10% of the whole group, with half of those having PsA 10. That study also noted that a blood test called KL-6 was higher in patients with ILD, suggesting it might help screen who needs imaging 10. Smoking is a known risk factor for ILD in PsA 311. Overall, the evidence shows that imaging — especially CT or HRCT — is essential for finding ILD in PsA patients, as relying on symptoms or chest X-rays alone misses many cases.

What to ask your doctor

  • Should I have a chest CT or high-resolution CT to check for interstitial lung disease, given my psoriatic arthritis?
  • What are the symptoms of ILD I should watch for, like shortness of breath or a dry cough?
  • Could a blood test like KL-6 help decide if I need lung imaging?
  • If I smoke, how does that affect my risk for ILD with psoriatic arthritis?
  • How often should I be rechecked for lung problems if my initial imaging is normal?

This question is drawn from common patient questions about Pulmonology & Critical Care and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.