Methotrexate, leflunomide, and tacrolimus use and the progression of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

None of the three treatments increased the risk of RA-associated ILD progression, except for leflunomide, which increased the risk of ILD progression in patients with severe ILD. The appropriate use of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs considering RA disease activity and ILD severity would be important for the management of RA-associated ILD.