AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATION

Section 1 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

INTRODUCTION

Section 2 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Background

Diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) comprise a heterogenous group of disorders. Clinical, physiologic, radiographic, and pathologic presentations of patients with these disorders are varied. However, a number of common features justify their inclusion in a single disease category.

DPLD may be idiopathic, a classic illustration of which is idiopathic interstitial fibrosis (IPF), which is discussed in another article (see Pulmonary Fibrosis, Idiopathic). The underlying histopathology of IPF is usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP).
 
Other major histopathologic forms of interstitial pneumonitis include the following: desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP); respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease (RBILD); acute interstitial pneumonitis (AIP), also known as Hamman-Rich syndrome; nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP); cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) (see Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia); lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) (see Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia); sarcoidosis (see Sarcoidosis); hypersensitivity pneumonia (HSP) (see Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis);pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) (see Eosinophilic Granuloma (Histiocytosis X)); tuberous sclerosis; and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) (see Lymphangioleiomyomatosis).

Some of these disorders, for example, RBILD, DIP, and PLCH, are clearly associated with smoking. Some forms of DPLD may also be related to occupational, environmental, drug, and/or radiation exposure, as well as systemic illness such as collagen-vascular disease (see Collagen-Vascular Disease Associated With Interstitial Lung Disease). Although the recognized etiologies of these disorders are numerous, several groupings are clinically relevant. This article presents a broad overview, with an emphasis on those etiologies that result in pulmonary fibrosis not discussed elsewhere in this series.

The Medscape CME courses Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension and High-Resolution Chest Tomography in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia: Utility and Challenges may be helpful.

Pathophysiology

A common pathophysiology has been postulated for these disorders. It is thought to begin with acute injury to the pulmonary parenchyma, leading to chronic interstitial inflammation, then to fibroblast activation and proliferation, and finally progressing to the common endpoint of pulmonary fibrosis and tissue destruction. Current research indicates that inflammation is less important in IPF, which appears to be primarily a disorder of fibroblast activation and proliferation in response to some as yet unknown trigger(s).

The DPLDs typically manifest with the insidious onset of respiratory symptomatology, although onset can be acute and rapidly progressive, as in COP or AIP.

Pathologically, all DPLDs manifest histologically with disease largely within the interstitial compartment of the lung. However, alveolar and airway architecture also may be disrupted to varying degrees. The histologic patterns of UIP, DIP, nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis (NSIP), HSP, LIP, COP, giant cell pneumonitis, and granulomatous pneumonitis are most common and are focused in the alveolar, lobular, and lobar septa, impacting alveoli, small airways, and pulmonary vasculature.

Frequency

United States

As a group, diffuse interstitial diseases of the lung are uncommon. Based on the Bernalillo County, NM, USA registry data published in 1994, the overall estimated incidence is approximately 30 cases per 100,000 persons per year. Rates of interstitial lung disease are somewhat higher in men than in women, and the epidemiology is markedly affected by age and occupational exposures. Of patients referred to a pulmonary disease specialist, an estimated 10-15% have a DPLD.

International

Although little published data exist comparing worldwide prevalence, significant differences are apparent. The Bernalillo County study estimated a prevalence of 80.9 cases per 100,000 population in men and 67.2 cases per 100,000 population in women. In comparison, a Japanese study estimated a prevalence of 4.1 cases per 100,000 population; a study in the Czech Republic reported 7-12 cases per 100,000 population; and data from a Finnish registry indicated 16-18 cases per 100,000 population.

Mortality/Morbidity

The natural history of diffuse interstitial lung diseases varies among different diagnostic entities and among individuals with the same diagnosis.

• Some diseases are insidious in onset and gradual but unrelenting in progression (eg, similar to IPF), while other diseases are acute in onset but responsive to therapy (eg, COP).
• Diseases that most closely approximate IPF have a similar mortality rate of approximately 50% at 5 years.
• In the United States, mortality attributed to all types of DPLDs is estimated to be 10-15% of that of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Race

• Diffuse interstitial diseases of the lung sometimes show racial predilections. Examples include sarcoidosis, which is more common in those of African ancestry in the United States. In contrast, PLCH, also known as histiocytosis X, primarily affects white persons.

Sex

• Several diffuse interstitial diseases of the lung show sexual predilections. IPF affects men more than women (at a ratio of 1.5:1), while LAM and pulmonary tuberous sclerosis exclusively affect women.
• The Bernalillo County study estimated a prevalence of 80.9 cases per 100,000 population in men and 67.2 cases per 100,000 population in women. 
• Women are much more likely to develop rheumatologic/connective-tissue disease than men and thus are more likely to experience pulmonary manifestations of those diseases. However, when affected, men with certain rheumatologic diseases (eg, rheumatoid arthritis) are more likely to develop pulmonary manifestations than women.
• The pneumoconioses (eg, silicosis) are much more common in men than in women, probably because of higher rates of occupational exposure.

Age

• Many of the DPLDs develop over many years and therefore are more prevalent in older adults. For example, most patients with IPF present in the sixth or greater decade of life. Others forms of interstitial lung disease, such as sarcoidosis, LAM, connective-tissue disease–associated lung disease, and inherited forms of lung disease primarily present in younger adults.

CLINICAL

Section 3 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

History

The clinical history offered by patients with a DPLD is variable and related to the underlying disease process.

• In general, all manifest primarily with respiratory symptoms that may be erroneously attributed to aging, obesity, deconditioning, or recent respiratory tract infection.
• • Dyspnea is the most frequent symptom, but chronic cough, wheezing, hemoptysis, and chest pain can occur.
  • Digital clubbing is common with some diagnoses (eg, IPF and asbestosis) and may first be noted by the patient. When it develops in a patient with known interstitial lung disease, it is usually indicative of advanced fibrosis. However, it may also herald an underlying bronchogenic carcinoma.
• Clinical history may include the following:
• • Incidental diagnosis may be made from a chest radiograph or abnormal screening spirometry findings obtained for unrelated reasons.
  • Diagnosis may occur as a result of screening for high-risk occupational exposure, such as asbestos.
  • Medical attention may be sought for other manifestations of systemic illness that also affect the lungs.
• Broadly, the manifestations of fibrotic lung disease can be grouped as follows:
• • They may be chronic, insidious, and slowly progressive.
  • They may be subacute, with a resolving, remitting, relapsing, or progressive course.
  • They may be acute, with a fulminant, progressive, remitting, or resolving course.
• Disorders with chronic, insidious, and slowly progressive courses are those that clinically resemble IPF and usually share a common pathology (ie, UIP).
• • Many of the rheumatologic/connective-tissue diseases (eg, rheumatoid arthritis; calcinosis cutis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal motility disorder, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia (CREST) syndrome/progressive systemic scleroderma; systemic lupus erythematosus; mixed connective-tissue disease; the pneumoconioses (eg, asbestosis, silicosis); chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis; and drug-related pulmonary fibrosis (eg, due to bleomycin) generally fit into this category.
  • Development of clinically apparent lung diseases related to occupational exposures (eg, pneumoconiosis) generally occurs many years after the exposure. Radiation fibrosis often develops months to years after radiation exposure.
  • A lag time of months or years can occur between the use of pulmonary toxic medications and the development of fibrotic disease. The effect can be dose-dependent (eg, bleomycin), although, in other cases, the relationship is less clear.
  • Pulmonary manifestations of rheumatologic/connective-tissue disease may develop in advance of, coincident with, or many years after the onset of articular disease.
  • Pulmonary sarcoidosis, although sometimes acute or subacute in onset, in some cases may present insidiously over time.
• Subacute presentations with a variable course are typified by COP.
• • COP often develops weeks or months after the onset of a flulike  illness.
  • Patients can present to medical attention with dyspnea or exercise intolerance.
  • The course is variable and may either spontaneously remit or progress.
  • The disorder is thought to be very responsive to steroid therapy, although it may recur when steroids are withdrawn or tapered.
  • In some cases, COP may progress to end-stage fibrotic lung disease.
• Disorders with an acute onset are typified by AIP, which is an idiopathic form of severe lung injury.
• • The histopathology is that of adult respiratory distress syndrome with diffuse alveolar damage.
  • Patients present either with no antecedent history of lung disease or as part of an accelerated phase of underlying interstitial disease.
  • Most patients progress rapidly to respiratory failure.
  • Some patients may improve with steroids or other immunosuppressive therapy.

Physical

• Varied etiologies make generalization of physical examination findings difficult for patients with DPLD. However, clinical examination findings noted in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are frequently noted in patients with other DPLDs.
• • Patients frequently are dyspneic, which may be more pronounced with activity and generally is associated with an accompanying tachypnea.
  • Central cyanosis may be present if significant hypoxemia and arterial oxygen desaturation are present.
  • Lung volumes are usually reduced. Fine end-inspiratory pulmonary rales (Velcro rales) are a common finding and may be difficult to distinguish from those auscultated in patients with congestive heart failure. Pulmonary sarcoidosis and other granulomatous disorders are often an exception.
  • Wheezes may be heard and reflect airway involvement, as in sarcoidosis.
  • A pulmonary squawk has been described with HSP.
  • A right-sided gallop (S₃), an accentuated second heart sound (P₂) with fixed or paradoxic splitting, and a right ventricular lift may be present. These indicate cor pulmonale.
  • Digital clubbing may accompany many of these disorders, as previously discussed.
• Disease-specific findings include the following:
• • Generalized lymphadenopathy often occurs with sarcoidosis.
  • Cutaneous and articular findings are associated with rheumatologic disease.
  • Gastrointestinal manifestations occur with inflammatory bowel disease.

Causes

Numerous causes/diagnoses are included among the DPLDs, many of which can be grouped as follows:

• Those that mimic interstitial lung disease in clinical presentation and chest radiographic findings, including the following:
• • Congestive heart failure
  • Atypical pneumonia (including Pneumocystis species)
  • Lymphangitic spread of cancer
• Those associated with environmental or occupational exposures, including the following:
• • Pneumoconioses (a group of occupational lung diseases related to inhalational exposures to inorganic dusts [eg, silicosis, asbestosis, berylliosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis {black lung}])
  • HSP caused by exposure to protein antigens (eg, farmer's lung, pigeon-breeder's lung, hot-tub lung)
  • Fibrotic lung disease due to exposure to toxic gases, fumes, aerosols, and vapors (eg, silo-filler's disease)
  • Radiation exposure (ionizing radiation, frequently used in medical therapeutics)
• Those associated with rheumatologic/connective-tissue diseases, such as the following:
• • Scleroderma (CREST syndrome/progressive systemic scleroderma)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Mixed connective-tissue disease
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • The pulmonary-renal syndromes (ie, Wegner or Goodpasture disease) - Often included with this group; however, predominant manifestation is vasculitis rather than fibrosis
• Those related to drug exposure, including the following:
• • Cytotoxic agents (eg, bleomycin, busulfan, methotrexate)
  • Antibiotics (eg, nitrofurantoin, sulfasalazine)
  • Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, tocainide)
  • Anti-inflammatory medications (eg, gold, penicillamine)
  • Illicit drugs (eg, crack cocaine, heroin)
• Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous diseases (eg, berylliosis)
• Those related to other systemic illnesses, including the following:
• • Hepatitis C
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• Idiopathic or rare DPLDs, such as the following:
• • COP (idiopathic)
  • PLCH (rare)
  • Eosinophilic pneumonia
• Inherited DPLDs, including the following:
• • Familial IPF or sarcoidosis
  • Tuberous sclerosis
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Niemann-Pick disease
  • Gaucher disease
  • Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome
• Certain DPLDs, such as RBILD, DIP, and PLCH, are largely or only seen in current or former smokers.

DIFFERENTIALS

Section 4 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

WORKUP

Section 5 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Lab Studies

• Routine blood analysis and serum chemistries are of limited value, and findings generally are nonspecific.
• Serologic testing for rheumatologic disease or vasculitis (eg, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, anticitrulline antibody, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, antiglomerular basement membrane) may be appropriate in specific cases, as may serum precipitins for common hypersensitivity antigens. ACE testing is not very specific or sensitive but may offer a confirmatory clue to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Imaging Studies

• Chest radiography findings are frequently abnormal in patients with fibrotic lung disease.
• • Reticular and/or nodular opacities are the hallmark (see Media File 1).
  • Honeycombing is a late finding and correlates with severe histopathologic findings.
  • Findings may be normal in 10% of patients with histologically proven disease. Therefore, a complete evaluation including pulmonary function testing and, in some cases, pulmonary exercise testing, should be undertaken in all patients clinically suspected to have underlying interstitial lung disease.
  • Certain patterns and distributions of abnormality are suggestive of particular diseases.
  • • Sarcoid-associated interstitial disease often demonstrates symmetric hilar adenopathy.
    • IPF, asbestosis, and connective-tissue disease–related changes are most often basilar and peripheral in distribution.
    • Radiation fibrosis is restricted to the previous radiation port but also may have upper lung zone predominance, as may sarcoidosis, PLCH, HSP, pneumoconioses, and drug-related DPLD due to gold or nitrofurantoin therapy.
    • Some patterns of abnormality, such as reverse congestive heart failure or a bat-wing pattern, are described with eosinophilic pneumonia.
• High-resolution chest CT scanning is more sensitive than chest radiography and may reveal characteristic, if not diagnostic, findings (see Media File 2).^{1, 2}
• • Linear reticular opacities are the most common findings.
  • A ground-glass pattern is less common. It is an opacification that does not obscure underlying lung markings and is thought to be a favorable prognostic finding.
  • Airspace consolidation may be present in eosinophilic pneumonia and COP.
  • The presence of nodules suggests HSP, granulomatous disease (eg, sarcoidosis), PLCH, and RBILD.
  • Large cystic spaces may be seen in PLCH and LAM.
  • Honeycombing is indicative of end-stage disease and carries a poor prognosis.

Other Tests

• Pulmonary function testing may demonstrate reduced lung volumes with testing of total lung capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and forced vital capacity.
• • The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity is usually normal or increased.
  • Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is generally reduced.
  • Static pulmonary compliance is reduced.
  • The restrictive defect may be absent in patients with significant smoking history due to coexistent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  • An obstructive defect may be present in patients with coexistent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sarcoidosis, LAM, and tuberous sclerosis.
• Arterial blood gas analysis often reveals an increased alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen gradient and a reduced partial pressure of oxygen.
• • Oxygen desaturation is common.
  • All of these findings may be worsened with exercise.
• Pulmonary exercise testing may demonstrate decreased exercise capacity with exercise-limiting impairments in ventilation and gas exchange.

Procedures

• Bronchiolar lavage findings are frequently abnormal although generally not diagnostic. Bronchiolar lavage is useful in evaluating the possibility of infection or malignancy. It can also be diagnostic for eosinophilic pneumonia.
• Transbronchial and endobronchial lung biopsies may be diagnostic, particularly for sarcoidosis or lymphangitic spread of carcinoma but frequently are not useful for other diagnoses. This is due to the patchy distribution of the majority of these diseases.
• Many patients require open or thoracoscopic lung biopsy to establish a definitive diagnosis. Currently, video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy is the preferred method.
• The role of lung biopsy in the setting of high-resolution CT scan findings characteristic of specific disease entities remains controversial, with expert opinion weighing in on both sides.^{1, 2, 3} Consensus appears to be building on the side of forgoing biopsy when the typical clinical and high-resolution CT scan features of UIP are present.

Histologic Findings

The histopathology observed in diffuse interstitial diseases of the lung is varied. The histopathologic classification of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias were updated by Katzenstein and Myers⁴ in 1998 to include the following 4 subgroups: UIP, AIP (diffuse alveolar damage), DIP/RBILD, and NSIP. Other pathologic patterns may be noted. Sometimes interstitial lung diseases with known etiologies may manifest one of the preceding histopathologic patterns. In addition, other pathologic patterns may be found. These may be consistent with COP, granulomatous lung disease, HSP, giant cell pneumonitis (hard-metal pneumoconiosis), eosinophilic pneumonia, and LIP (lymphoproliferative disorder).

Interpretation of histopathologic findings may be difficult, even in experienced hands, and disagreement may occur even among expert pathologists.⁵ In 2005, a 52% rate of disagreement between local general pathologists and "expert" pathologists was documented in a retrospective analysis.⁶

Staging

Pulmonary function studies and the 6-minute walk study have demonstrated prognostic utility in IPF with histopathologic findings of UIP and NSIP. A diminished diffusion capacity (DLCO) on initial evaluation is a poor prognostic indicator, regardless of histologic type. Egan et al⁷ have proposed a classification scheme of advanced versus limited disease based on a cutoff value of DLCO greater or less than 40%. Similarly, a trough saturation of less than 88% during a 6-minute walk study has been shown to confer a worse prognosis. Serial decrements in functional vital capacity and DLCO over time are also associated with increased mortality.

TREATMENT

Section 6 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Medical Care

• Treatment is best determined by the specific diagnosis. Unfortunately, a specific etiology often is not determined. General supportive measures include the following:
• • Smoking cessation should be counseled.
  • Good pulmonary hygiene is important.
  • Supplemental oxygen therapy may be useful for any patients who demonstrate significant hypoxemia (oxygen saturation [SaO₂] <89% or PaO₂ <55 mm Hg while breathing room air).
  • If inhalational exposures are thought to be the etiology, as in HP and occupational forms of interstitial lung disease, removal from exposure is mandatory.
  • If a toxic medication is suspected, its discontinuation is mandated.
  • Respiratory infections should be promptly treated.
• Pharmacologic therapy with corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) and/or cytotoxic agents for their potential steroid-sparing effect (eg, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate) may be indicated for specific diagnoses.
• Other immunosuppressive or antifibrotic agents such as colchicine, cyclosporine, and D-penicillamine may have a role in specific cases. Empiric use of these medications without a specific diagnosis should be discouraged because they have significant toxicities.
• Interferon-gamma-1b,⁸ pirfenidone,⁹ and acetylcysteine¹⁰ have been studied for the treatment of IPF. Interferon-gamma-1b initially appeared to have a favorable effect. This, however, was not supported in a larger follow-up study. Some evidence suggests that pirfenidone and acetylcysteine may have some benefit in IPF. Further investigation is still needed, particularly in other forms of DPLD.
• A 2008  multisystem, randomized, controlled study of bosentan over a period of 4 weeks did not show superiority over placebo; however, a trend toward superiority was noted, which was more pronounced in patients with UIP documented by surgical biopsy.¹¹

Surgical Care

• Surgery in the form of either thoracoscopic (preferred) or open lung biopsy is indicated to obtain tissue specimens for definitive diagnosis.
• More recently, lung transplantation has become a treatment option for selected patients with advanced disease.¹²
• • Survival rates worldwide after single lung transplantation are approximately 74% at 1 year, 58% at 3 years, 47% at 5 years, and 24% at 10 years.
  • Survival rates are lower for bilateral lung transplantation.
  • Following transplantation, patients overall report improved quality of life with better physical, social, and general health functioning.

Consultations

• Consider consultation with a pulmonary or occupational disease specialist for patients with suspected DPLD.

Diet

• No specific dietary restrictions are warranted for affected patients.
• Some suggest that antioxidants have a therapeutic benefit.

Activity

• Encourage exercise and pulmonary rehabilitation because they may improve a patient's functional status. However, these activities generally have no effect on disease progression.

MEDICATION

Section 7 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Medications are best used for specific diagnoses. However, corticosteroids, cytotoxic agents, and, more recently, antifibrotics, antioxidants, and other immunosuppressive agents have been used with varying success in some forms of DPLD.

In general, NSIP, DIP, and COP have been found to be more responsive to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapies. UIP is generally thought to be unresponsive to these modalities, and thus, additional research in the form of clinical trials evaluating potentially promising agents continues. RBILD responds to smoking cessation.

Drug Category: Corticosteroids

Have anti-inflammatory properties and cause profound and varied metabolic effects. In addition, modify body's immune response to diverse stimuli.

Drug Category: Cytotoxics

Used for some of their immunosuppressant properties.

Drug Category: Anti-inflammatories

Immunosuppressive effects may inhibit cellular division and fibrosis.

FOLLOW-UP

Section 8 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Further Inpatient Care

• Patients with interstitial lung disease generally are treated in an outpatient setting.
• With advancing disease, progressive respiratory failure, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and cor pulmonale may all occur and require hospital admission.
• Bronchogenic cancer occurs with increased frequency.¹³

Further Outpatient Care

• See patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease every 3-6 months.
• • Order pulmonary function testing every 3-6 months to assess disease progression and response to therapy.
  • High-resolution CT scanning is becoming an increasingly important tool in making the initial diagnosis and subsequent assessments of disease progression and/or responses to therapy.

In/Out Patient Meds

• Immunosuppressive and antifibrotic medications and supplemental oxygen may be indicated for some patients.
• Prompt treatment is necessary for complicating pulmonary disease such as cor pulmonale (oxygen, diuretics), pulmonary embolism (anticoagulants), and infection (antibiotics).

Transfer

• Most patients with DPLD can be treated in community settings.
• Transfer to a tertiary care center is indicated when the diagnosis is in doubt or when treatment is ineffective.

Deterrence/Prevention

• Prevention is predicated upon the specific diagnosis.

Complications

• Progressive respiratory failure
• Cor pulmonale
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pneumothorax
• Pneumonia
• Bronchogenic carcinoma

Prognosis

• The prognosis is variable and depends on the specific diagnosis and clinical, physiologic, and pathologic severity.

Patient Education

• Educate patients about the nature of the specific diagnosis and about potential toxicities of prescribed medications.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Medical/Legal Pitfalls

• When a patient presents with DPLD possibly resulting from an occupational exposure, the following important medicolegal questions should be considered:
• • Does the diagnosis represent a sentinel health event that requires notification of the particular state's Department of Public Health?
  • Is concern sufficient enough to merit notification of the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health?
  • Does a workplace investigation need to be conducted?
• Often, important compensation, disability, and product-liability issues must be addressed. These and other issues are appropriate reasons to involve an occupational disease specialist.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Section 10 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Robert S. Crausman, MD, MMS, to the development and writing of this article.

MULTIMEDIA

Section 11 of 12  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Media file 1:  Frontal chest radiograph demonstrating bilateral reticular and nodular interstitial infiltrates with upper zone predominance.
	View Full Size Image
Media type:  X-RAY

Media file 2:  High-resolution chest CT scan of patient with bilateral reticular and nodular interstitial infiltrates with upper zone predominance.
	View Full Size Image
Media type:  CT

REFERENCES

Section 12 of 12

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Medication
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

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2. Lynch DA, David Godwin J, Safrin S, Starko KM, Hormel P, Brown KK, et al. High-resolution computed tomography in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: diagnosis and prognosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Aug 15 2005;172(4):488-93. [Medline].
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8. Raghu G, Brown KK, Bradford WZ, Starko K, Noble PW, Schwartz DA, et al. A placebo-controlled trial of interferon gamma-1b in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. Jan 8 2004;350(2):125-33. [Medline].
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10. Demedts M, Behr J, Buhl R, Costabel U, Dekhuijzen R, Jansen HM. High-dose acetylcysteine in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. Nov 24 2005;353(21):2229-42. [Medline].
11. King TE Jr, Behr J, Brown KK, du Bois RM, Lancaster L, de Andrade JA, et al. BUILD-1: a randomized placebo-controlled trial of bosentan in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Jan 1 2008;177(1):75-81. [Medline].
12. Alalawi R, Whelan T, Bajwa RS, Hodges TN. Lung transplantation and interstitial lung disease. Curr Opin Pulm Med. Sep 2005;11(5):461-6. [Medline].
13. Raghu G, Nyberg F, Morgan G. The epidemiology of interstitial lung disease and its association with lung cancer. Br J Cancer. Aug 2004;91 Suppl 2:S3-10. [Medline].
14. American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society. American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society International Multidisciplinary Consensus Classification of the Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias. This joint statement of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) was adopted by the ATS board of directors, June 2001 and by the ERS Executive Committee, June 2001. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Jan 15 2002;165(2):277-304. [Medline].
15. King TE Jr. Clinical advances in the diagnosis and therapy of the interstitial lung diseases. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Aug 1 2005;172(3):268-79. [Medline].
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Article Last Updated: Jun 20, 2008