What is ILD?

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of conditions that cause scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs, making them stiff and limiting oxygen supply to the blood.

Types of ILD

• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) - unknown cause
• Sarcoidosis - abnormal clumps of inflammatory cells in lungs/organs
• Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis - lung inflammation from inhaled dust/mould/chemicals
• Asbestosis - scarring due to asbestos exposure
• Connective Tissue Disease-Related ILD - in autoimmune conditions (RA, SSc-ILD)

SSc-ILD: Occurs in 42-50% of systemic sclerosis patients, with pulmonary fibrosis being the leading cause of SSc-related deaths (~35%).

Symptoms of ILD

• Breathlessness
• Dry cough
• Fatigue
• Chest discomfort
• Weight loss

Complications include pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, or respiratory failure.

Risk Factors

• Family history of lung disease
• Smoking
• Chemotherapy or radiation
• Exposure to hazardous materials (asbestos, dust)
• Autoimmune diseases

Screening & Diagnosis

• HRCT scan
• Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
• DLCO
• Chest auscultation (crackling sounds)
• Multidisciplinary evaluation is the gold standard