Knowra Interstitial lung disease Interstitial lung disease Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a diverse group of disorders involving inflammation or scarring in the tissue surrounding the air sacs and other lung structures. These changes can stiffen the lungs and impair oxygen transfer.
Pulmonary fibrosis : Permanent scarring of lung tissue that makes the lungs stiff and can impair oxygen transfer. Fibrosis is the scarring process behind many progressive forms of ILD.
Pulmonary interstitium : The connective tissue framework surrounding lung air sacs, blood vessels, and airways. Despite the name, ILD can affect more than this tissue compartment alone.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis : A chronic, progressive fibrosing lung disease of unknown cause, associated with a usual interstitial pneumonia pattern. It is a well-defined ILD with distinct diagnostic criteria and treatment options.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : A chronic lung disease characterized by persistent airflow obstruction, usually associated with smoking or other inhaled exposures. Unlike typical ILD, it primarily obstructs airflow rather than restricting lung expansion.
Alveoli : Microscopic air sacs where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide leaves it. Inflammation and scarring around these sacs can disrupt gas exchange.
Restrictive lung disease : A group of conditions that limit lung expansion and reduce lung volumes. Many ILDs produce a restrictive pattern on pulmonary function tests.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis : An immune-mediated lung disease caused by inhaled environmental antigens in susceptible people. Exposure history can reveal a treatable trigger for this ILD.
Asthma : A chronic airway disorder involving variable inflammation and narrowing that causes episodes of breathing difficulty. Asthma affects the airways and often varies over time, unlike persistent interstitial scarring.
Pulmonary function testing : Tests that measure lung volumes, airflow, and the transfer of gases between air and blood. Restrictive measurements and reduced gas transfer can reveal the functional effects of ILD.
Diffuse parenchymal lung disease : A broad group of disorders affecting the lung's gas-exchanging tissue across multiple regions. This term often describes the wider disease family that includes ILD.
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