Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of lung disorders in which the lung tissues become inflamed and then damaged.
Diffuse parenchymal lung disease; Alveolitis; Idiopathic pulmonary pneumonitis (IPP)
The lungs contain tiny air sacs (alveoli), which is where oxygen is absorbed. These air sacs expand with each breath.
The tissue around these air sacs is called the interstitium. In people with interstitial lung disease, this tissue becomes stiff or scarred, and the air sacs are not able to expand as much. As a result, not as much oxygen can get to the body.
ILD can occur without a known cause. This is called idiopathic ILD. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common disease of this type.
There are also dozens of known causes of ILD, including:
Cigarette smoking may increase the risk of developing some forms of ILD and may cause the disease to be more severe.
Shortness of breath is a main symptom of ILD. You may breathe faster or need to take deep breaths:
Most people with this condition also have a dry cough. A dry cough means you do not cough up any mucus or sputum.
Over time, weight loss, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain are also present.
People with more advanced ILD may have:
Treatment depends on the cause and duration of the disease. Medicines that suppress the immune system and reduce swelling in the lungs are prescribed if an autoimmune disease is causing the problem. For some people who have IPF, pirfenidone and nintedanib are two medicines that may be used to slow the disease. If there is no specific treatment for the condition, the aim is to make you more comfortable and support lung function:
Lung rehabilitation can provide support, and help you learn:
Some people with advanced ILD may need a lung transplant.
Harold Collard is a Pulmonary Medicine specialist and an Intensive Care Medicine expert in San Francisco, California. Collard has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Acute Interstitial Pneumonia, Interstitial Lung Disease, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Lung Transplant. He is licensed to treat patients in California.
Imre Noth is a Pulmonary Medicine specialist and an Intensive Care Medicine expert in Charlottesville, Virginia. Noth has been practicing medicine for over 31 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease. He is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Fibrosis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Acute Interstitial Pneumonia, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Lung Transplant. He is licensed to treat patients in Virginia. Noth is currently accepting new patients.
Paul Wolters is a Pulmonary Medicine specialist and an Intensive Care Medicine expert in San Francisco, California. Wolters has been practicing medicine for over 31 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease. He is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Acute Interstitial Pneumonia, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Lung Transplant. He is licensed to treat patients in California. Wolters is currently accepting new patients.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
The chance of recovering or ILD getting worse depends on the cause and how severe the disease was when it was first diagnosed.
Some people with ILD develop heart failure and high blood pressure in the blood vessels of their lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a poor outlook.
Call your provider if:
Summary: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with an open-label extension (OLE).
Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess multiple ascending doses of a new drug (BAY63-2521) given orally, to evaluate if it is safe and can help to improve the well-being, symptoms (e.g. disturbed breathing) and outcome of pulmonary hypertension associated with lung fibrosis. Patients living with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease have a risk of increased number of hos...
Published Date: December 06, 2021
Published By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron, Jr. Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Corte TJ, Wells AU. Connective tissue diseases. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 92.
Graney BA, Lee JS, King TE. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis and other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 90.
Raghu G, Martinez FJ. Interstitial lung disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 86.