Frequently Asked Questions About Interstitial Lung Disease
- What are interstitial lung diseases (ILD)?
- What causes ILD?
- What are the symptoms?
- How is ILD diagnosed?
- What are my treatment options?
Q. What are interstitial lung diseases (ILD)?
A. Interstitial lung disease (ILD)--or pulmonary fibrosis--refers to more than 200 chronic lung disorders. With ILD, the tissue between the air sacs of the lungs (the interstitium) is affected by inflammation or scarring (fibrosis).
These disorders generally are:
- Chronic
- Non-malignant (not directly cancerous)
- Non-infectious (you can't pass the disease to another person)
Fibrosis causes lung tissue to permanently lose the ability to breathe and carry oxygen. Air sacs, as well as the lung tissue between and surrounding the air sacs, and the lung capillaries, are destroyed by the formation of scar tissue.
Back to Top
Q. What causes ILD?
A. In some cases--including the most common ILD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis--physicians do not know the cause. In other cases, ILD has been shown to be caused by one of the following:
- Inhaling environmental pollutants
- Occupational exposures. For example, prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers cause inflammation that lead to the scarring in the lung.
- Diseases affecting many parts of the body, leading the body to "attack" itself. For example, rheumatoid arthrtitis can lead to a variety of interstitial lung disease patterns.
Back to Top
Q. What are the symptoms?
A. The symptoms will vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms of an ILD are:
- Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or exercise
- Dry cough that does not produce phlegm
- Labored breathing
Although rapid worsening can happen, ILD's symptoms are generally slowly progressive--meaning they gradually get worse over time. Because these symptoms may resemble other lung conditions or medical problems, accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure proper treatment.
Back to Top
Q. How is ILD diagnosed?
A. Usually a physician will be able to diagnose ILD using a chest X-ray or lung CT scan and PFTs. But some people with ILD have a normal chest X-ray. In many cases, your doctor may ask for one or more of the following tests:
- Pulmonary function testing: You will be asked to blow into a special machine called a spirometer which measures whether or not you have decreased lung capacity. This test is also used to monitor ILD.
- Exercise testing: During this test, your doctor will ask you to either ride a stationary bike or walk on a treadmill while he or she monitors your breathing and blood oxygen level.
- Bronchoscopy: For this test, you will be awake but sedated. Your doctor will pass a flexible tube through your mouth and into your lungs. He or she will then be able to remove a very small sample of lung tissue for testing. The procedure can usually be completed in your doctor's office.
- Open lung biopsy: Done in rare cases, an open lung biopsy requires a patient to have surgery under general anesthesia. A surgeon will make a small incision between two ribs in order to to remove a small sample of lung tissue. Like most open surgeries, you will probably have to spend time in the hospital.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL): BAL is similar to a bronchoscopy except instead of removing lung tissue, your doctor will inject and then immediately remove saline solution from your lungs. This procedure is frequently used to determine whether or not your ILD is active or non-active.
Back to Top
Q. What are my treatment options?
A. The course of ILDs is unpredictable. Because each patient is different, your ILD may run a gradual course or a rapid course. You may notice a variation in symptoms--from very mild, to moderate, to very severe. The condition may remain the same for long periods of time or it may change quickly. At the University of Chicago, your physician will closely monitor your ILD for change--adjusting treatment as needed.
If your ILD progresses, the lung tissue thickens and becomes stiff. Breathing then becomes more difficult and demanding. Some of the diseases improve with medication if treated when inflammation occurs. Some people may need oxygen therapy as part of their treatment.
Back to Top
More Information
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Team
