Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs) - General

Question 1

What are Interstitial Lung Diseases?

Answer 1

Conditions that cause inflammation and fibrosis of the lung parenchyma.

Question 2

What is Fibrosis?

Answer 2

Replacement of the normal elastic and functional lung tissue with scar tissue that is stuff and dysfunctional.

Question 3

What is the Interstitium?

Answer 3

The tissue lying between the alveoli - it contains pulmonary artery capillaries.

Question 4

Why is there breathlessness in Interstitial Lung Disease?

Answer 4

1. Expanded by Inflammatory Cell Infiltrate.

Question 5

Investigations of Interstitial Lung Disease (2).

Answer 5

1. Diagnosis - Clinical Presentation + High-Resolution CT Thorax (‘Ground-Glass’).
2. Lung Biopsy.

Question 6

Management of Interstitial Lung Disease (5).

Answer 6

1. Supportive Management.
2. Treat/Remove Underlying Cause.
3. Physiotherapy and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
4. Lung Transplant.
5. Smoking Cessation and Vaccines.