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After a few monthly infusions of Orencia with no discernable effects (+ or -), my rheumatologist has scheduled me for 2 infusions (6-hour sessions) of Rituximab 2 weeks apart starting 12 May 2025 & 27 May 2025 – stay tuned! This string of 15 replies was very helpful in making the decision to go this route – thank you all! It was also endorsed by my new pulmonologist who thinks that it may well mitigate symptoms of both autoimmune diseases of IPF and RA. In the chicken/egg dept., she says that I may have UIP (Usual Interstitial Pneumonia) – which is caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical term for UIP of unknown cause is IPF. This in spite of my IPF diagnosis in May of 2018 and RA not manifesting or identified until early 2024. Whether it’s called IPF or UPI, the disease is the same – a form of interstitial lung disease. As an 81-year-old male, “a skunk by any other name still stinks”!! Hopefully on-going research will soon identify causes and cures of this scourge!