Abstract
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a final common pathway for a large number of lung insults. It is characterized by progressive scarring of the lung leading to restriction and diminished oxygen transfer. Clinically, the presenting symptoms of ILD are nonspecific (cough and progressive dyspnea on exertion) and are often attributed to other diseases, thus delaying diagnosis and timely therapy. ILD occurs most commonly in older individuals and is increasingly encountered by internists. Both the diagnosis and treatment can be daunting: patients frequently have irreversibly impaired lung function at diagnosis, and therapeutic modalities are limited and associated with significant adverse effects. This review will assist internists in the recognition and management of ILD, provide a benchmark for pulmonary referrals, and offer guidance in advising patients with this life-threatening disorder.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 579-587 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Southern medical journal |
Volume | 100 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2007 |
Keywords
- Cough
- Dyspnea
- ILD
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lung transplantation
- Pulmonary fibrosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine