Interstitial Lung Disease

Question 1

What is interstitial lung disease?

Answer 1

Disease of the pulmonary interstitium:

• Area between the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium
• Effects of septal and bronchovascular tissues making up the fibrous framework of the lung
• Can involve airways, vasculature and alveolar spaces

Question 2

What are the common causes of interstitial lung disease?

Answer 2

• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Connective tissue disease associated ILD
• Hypersensitive pneumonitis
• Sarcoidosis
• Drug induced ILD
• Cryptogenic organising pneumonia → unknown cause
• Infection → COVID