Interstitial lung diseases

Question 1

Interstitial lung diseases comprise a

Answer 1

group of disorders that have the

• common features of inflammation and fibrosis of the interalveolar septum,
• representing a non-specific reaction of the lung to injury of various causes.

Question 2

Causes of pulmonary infiltration include:

Answer 2

sarcoidosis

idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis)

lymphangitis carcinomatosis

drug induced (e.g. nitrofurantoin, cytotoxics)

Question 3

Common clinical features:

Answer 3

dyspnoea and dry cough (insidious onset)

slowly progressive dyspnoea over months to years

fine inspiratory crackles at lung base

finger clubbing

PFTs:

• restrictive ventilatory deficit
• decrease in gas transfer factor

characteristic X-ray changes