Interstitial Lung disease Flashcards
How is ILD characterized?
ILD is characterized by acute, subacute or chronic inflammatory infiltration of alveolar walls by cells, fluid and connective tissue
What is the result if the inflammation from ILD is left untreated?
If untreated, the inflammatory processes can progressively develop into irreversible pulmonary fibrosis
What is the occurrence of ILD in the united states?
81 out of every 100000 people have some form of ILD
What are the basic functions of the interstitium?
Support the lung structurally
Maintain fluid balance
Help repair and remodel the lungs
Describe the basic pathophysiologic pathway of ILD
Injury (inhaling shit)
Inflammation
Disordered repair of involved tissue
Pulmonary fibrosis
End stage lung disease
What happens to the alveoli in ILD?
The alveoli can be destroyed along with the adjacent pulmonary capillaries
What is the order of movement of ILD in regards to the tissues?
Moves from bronchi to alveolar walls to adjacent alveolar spaces
Describe what happens to the tissues as a result of ILD
Fibrotic thickening of the respiratory bronchioles alveolar ducts and alveoli
What can form in the lungs as a result of ILD?
Granulomas
Just what the fuck is a granuloma?
A granuloma is an aggregation of macrophages (along with other cells) that forms in response to chronic inflammation. This occurs when the immune system attempts to isolate foreign substances that it is otherwise unable to eliminate
What can form in the lungs specifically in patients with asbestosis?
Fibrocalcific pleural plaques
Describe how ILD changes the compliance of the lungs
ILD severely decreases compliance
What inorganic exposures can result in ILD?
Asbestos
Coal dust
Silica
Why is the size of asbestos fibers significant?
Asbestos fibers can be <1 micrometer in size which can allow them to be deposited very deeply in the respiratory tract, notably in the parenchyma
If you were looking at a tissue sample from someone who has asbestosis, what would it look like?
Asbestos fibers would appear within the thickened walls of the alveoli as brown or orange baton shaped structures
What can form in the lungs as a result of exposure to coal dust?
Pinpoint nodules called coal macules
Where do coal macules tend to be found?
Coal macules tend to be found in the first and second generation respiratory bronchioles and cause the adjacent alveoli to retract
What is the characteristic of complicated coal workers pneumoconiosis?
Coal workers pneumoconiosis is characterized by areas of fibrotic nodules greater than 1 cm in diameter
The nodules are composed of dense collagenous tissue with black pigmentation
Complicated CWP is characterized by nodules coalescing and forming large masses of fibrotic tissues
What is silicosis characterized by?
The formation of small rounded nodules scattered throughout the lungs
Describe hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Immune system detects antigens and produces antibodies that initiate an inflammatory response on future exposures
Pneumonitis develops after repeated/prolonged exposure to the antigen
What is complicated silicosis characterized by?
Same as complicated CWP
Nodules coalesce and form large masses of fibrous tissues, usually in the upper lobes and peripheral regions
What are examples of antibiotics that can result in ILD?
Bitrofurantoin - used for UTIs
Sulfazalazine - treating rheumatoid arthritis
What are examples of antiinflammatory agents that are linked to ILD?
Aspirin
Methotrexate
What are cardiovascular agents that are linked to ILD?
Amiodarone
T/F: Oxygen is linked to ILD
True, thats why we aggressively wean people
At what level of radiation do most patients have to worry about ILD?
> 6000 rad
Describe scleroderma
A relatively rare autoimmune disorder of the blood vessels and connective tissue
What does scleroderma do to the body?
Causes fibrous degeneration of the connective tissue of the skin, lungs and internal organs particularly in the esophagus, digestive tract, and kidney
Where are the effects of scleroderma most common found
The esophagus, digestive tract and kidneys
Can also affect the lungs
What does scleroderma of the lung appear as?
ILD and fibrosis
What does scleroderma do to the lungs
Causes significant scarring of the lung parenchyma
What are some pulmonary complications associated with scleroderma?
Diffuse interstitial fibrosis
Severe pulmonary hypertension
Pleural disease
Aspiration pneumonitis (secondary to esophageal involvement)
In what population is scleroderma most commonly seen?
Women, 30-50 yo
What is the link between rheumatoid arthritis and lung complications?
Medications used to relieve RA potentially raise risk for lung complications
RA can also be associated with fibrosis of the lungs and nodule formation