*Interstitial and Occupational Lung Diseases 1 (lecture 1, 2 and 3) Flashcards
What are interstitial diseases of the lung?
Any disease process affecting the lung interstitium/ parenchyma in a diffuse manner i.e. alveoli and terminal bronchi
So interstitial diseases have a restrictive or obstructive lung pattern?
Restrictive
What are the characteristic features of interstitial lung disease in terms of the lung tissue?
Chronic inflammation
+/- progressive interstitial fibrosis
2 main symptoms of an interstitial lung disease?
Breathlessness
Dry cough
What are the 3 main categories, in terms of time, of interstitial lung disease?
Acute
Episodic
Chronic (part of systemic disease, exposure to agent, idiopathic)
What are the 4 main types of interstitial lung diseases?
ILD of known cause or association
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia
Granulomatous ILDs
Other forms of ILD
How is idiopathic interstitial pneumonia categorised?
Either idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic Interstitial pneumonia that isn’t IPF
What are the 6 causes of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia that are not idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
Desquamative interstitial pneumonia
Respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease
Acute interstitial pneumonia
Cryptogenic organising pneumonia
Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia
Non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)
What are the 2 most important granulomatous ILDs to remember?
Sarcoidosis
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
What is sarcoidosis?
A granulomatous disease of unknown cause
What type of hypersensitivity reaction is sarcoidosis?
Type 4
What systems are commonly affected by sarcoidosis? (6)
What systems are less commonly affected by sarcoidosis? (4)
Commonly:
Lungs, lymph nodes, joints, liver, skin, eyes
Less commonly:
Kidneys, brain, nerves, heart
Are the granulomas in sarcoidosis caseating or non-caveating?
non-caseating
TB = caseating
Is sarcoidosis more or less common in smokers?
Less
What are the 2 types of sarcoidosis?
Acute
Chronic
What are the symptoms of acute sarcoidosis?
Erythema nodosum Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy Arthritis Uveitis, parotitis Fever (patient will feel generally unwell)
Symptoms of chronic sarcoidosis?
Lung infiltrates (alveolitis) Skin infiltrations Peripheral lymphadenopathy Hypercalcaemia Other organs = renal, myocardial neurological, hepatitis, splenomegaly (symptoms come on more insidiously)
Investigations for sarcoidosis? (5)
Chest x-ray (BHL)
CT scan of lungs (peripheral nodular infiltrate)
Tissue biopsy (e.g. transbronchial, skin, lymph node) for non-caeseating granuloma
Pulmonary function (restrictive lung pattern)
Blood tests (ACEI as activity marker - not diagnostic test, raised calcium, raised inflammatory markers)
Treatment of acute sarcoidosis?
Self-limiting condition = usually no treatment required - steroids if vital organ affected
Treatment of chronic sarcoidosis?
Ora steroids usually needed
Immunosupression e.g. aathioprine, methotrexate, anti-TNF therapy
(monitor chest x-ray and pulmonary function for several years as often relapses)
What is another name for extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
What type of hypersensitivity is extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
Type III hypersensitivty (predominantly - there is also a type 4 reaction)
What happens in extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
In sensitised individuals, inhalation of allergens (fungal spores, thermophilic bacteria or avian proteins) causes a hypersensitivity reaction
In the acute phase, alveoli are infiltrated with acute inflammatory cells
With chronic exposure, granulomas form and obliterative bronchiolitis occurs
Types of extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by exposure to protein in avian droplets?
Bird fanciers lung
Pigeon fanciers lung
Type of extrinsic allergic alveolitis due to exposure to aspergillus clavatus?
Malt workers lung
Type of extrinsic allergic alveolitis due to exposure to micropolyspora faeni usually seen in farmers caused by mouldy hay?
Farmers lung
Type of extrinsic allergic alveolitis typically seen in people who work with mushrooms due to exposure to thermoactinomyces vulgaris?
Mushroom workers lung
Drugs that can cause extrinsic allergic alveolitis? (3)
Gold
Bleomycin
Sulphasalazine (rheumatoid arthritis)
(no cause identified in approx 30% of cases of extrinsic allergic alveolitis)
2 types of extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
Acute
Chronic
Symptoms of acute extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
Onset of symptoms?
Cough Breathlessness Fever Myalgia Classical several hours after acute exposure
Signs of acute extrinsic allergic alveolus?
+/- pyrexia
Crackles (no wheeze)
Hypoxia
Appearance of a chest x-ray in a patient with acute extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
Widespread pulmonary infiltrates
Treatment of extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
Oxygen
Steroid
Antigen avoidance
What causes chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
Repeated low dose antigen exposure over time (years) leading to progressive breathlessness and a cough