What are interstitial lung diseases? The treatment of such diseases, their symptoms and classification will be described later.
basic information
Interstitial lung disease is a whole complex of chronic diseases of the lung tissue, which are manifested by inflammation, as well as a violation of the structure of the endothelium of the capillaries, alveolar perivasal walls and perilymphatic tissues. A characteristic sign of such a pathological condition is shortness of breath. This symptom is a reflection of pulmonary failure.
Interstitial lung disease often leads to pneumofibrosis. In modern medical practice, this term is not used as a synonym for IFL, but sometimes it is still used in this meaning.
Classification
What is the principle of distinguishing interstitial lung diseases? Classification of these diseases occurs on the etiological basis:
- The reaction to drugs, and more precisely, to antibiotics, antiarrhythmic drugs and drugs for chemotherapy.
- Inhalation of certain substances from the environment (inorganic and organic substances, silicosis, berylliosis, asbestosis, allergic exogenous alveolitis or hypersensitive pneumonitis).
- Systemic diseases of connective tissue (rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis).
- Idiopathic (histiocytosis X, sarcoidosis, alveolar proteinosis, idiopathic pneumofibrosis, interstitial idiopathic alveolitis, including acute interstitial alveolitis).
- Infections (pneumocystis pneumonia, SARS, tuberculosis).
- Associated interstitial lung disease (with liver diseases: biliary primary cirrhosis of the liver, active chronic hepatitis; with pulmonary vasculitis: lymphomatoid granulomatosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, hypersensitive vasculitis, necrotizing systemic vasculitis; with a graft versus host reaction).
- Malignant tumors (lymphangitis carcinomatosis).
What is the EXL?
As mentioned above, interstitial lung disease is the common name for a group of respiratory diseases. They are united by the fact that they all act on interstitia, that is, on part of the lungs.
Interstitial tissue is called connective tissue of the lungs. It provides support for microscopic air sacs and lung alveoli.
Blood vessels passing through the interstitium perform the function of gas exchange between air in the airways and blood. The interstitial tissue is so thin that it is not visible on x-rays or during CT scans. But, despite this, her disease can still be detected in the process of these studies.
Any disease of the lung tissue causes its thickening. Such a pathological condition may occur due to inflammation, swelling, or scarring. Some types of interstitial tissue lesions pass quickly, while others are incurable or chronic.
Causes of disease
Why do interstitial lung diseases occur (recommendations of treatment specialists will be presented below)? There are many different reasons for the development of lung tissue lesions. For example, viruses, bacteria, or a fungus cause interstitial pneumonia. The development of other diseases may be associated with regular inhalation of irritating substances such as asbestos, talc, silica dust, metal dust, coal or grain. Very rarely, lung diseases of this group are formed due to exposure to narcotic components.
A feature of the ILI is that all of these factors contribute to the development of only certain diseases. In most cases, their causes remain unknown.
Symptoms of the disease
Diffuse interstitial lung diseases are characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue and its subsequent damage. Such pathological conditions are accompanied by shortness of breath. This is the main symptom of IFL. At first, shortness of breath is not too noticeable, but if the patient is involved in sports or just climbing the stairs, she immediately makes herself felt.
It should also be noted that dry cough is characteristic of ILI. Also, patients noticeably lose weight. They have joint and muscle pain, fatigue. In advanced cases, the person's nails abnormally expand, and the lips and skin turn blue. This pathological phenomenon is associated with low levels of oxygen in the blood.
Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease
How are these diseases detected? As a rule, people with IDL complain to a pulmonologist about coughing and shortness of breath. To make the correct diagnosis, the doctor usually uses the following lung examination methods:
- Computed tomography. Thanks to this method, you can create a complete image of the lungs, as well as all structures adjacent to them. IFL is fairly easily diagnosed with CT.
- X-ray Such a chest examination is usually performed to assess the general condition of the pulmonary system. The affected interstitium is displayed on the images as thin lines.
- High resolution CT scan. The correct settings of the tomograph, as well as the experience of a specialist, significantly increase the efficiency of the diagnosis of IL.
- Lung biopsy and examination of samples under a microscope. Quite often, this is the only possible way to determine the type of lung tissue lesion. Her samples can be taken using thoracoscopic video-assisted surgery, bronchoscopy, or thoractomy.
It should also be noted that to assess the function of external respiration, some specialists conduct special tests, including spirometry, bodyplethysmography, and others.
Treatment and clinical recommendations
Interstitial lung diseases are quite serious pathologies that require immediate treatment. The treatment regimen for such diseases should be selected only by a pulmonologist, depending on the causes of their development and the type of tissue lesion.
Most often, treatment of ILI is carried out with antibiotics. Such agents are effective for many types of interstitial pneumonia of bacterial origin.
As for viral pneumonia, it usually goes away on its own. It is not required to treat it with antibiotics. It should also be noted that such a rare disease as fungal pneumonia is eliminated only through special antifungal drugs.
Corticosteroids are another type of medication that is used to treat IDL. Such drugs eliminate the inflammatory process not only in the lungs, but also in other parts of the body. By the way, other drugs used to treat the disease in question can only slow down lung damage, as well as the process of worsening their work. They also often suppress the human immune system in order to reduce the inflammatory process, which leads to other health problems.
Experts advise people with a low oxygen content in the blood system to breathe oxygen through special devices. Such procedures will help to improve the general condition of the patient, as well as to fill the need for heart muscle in O 2 .
It should be noted that in some cases, doctors recommend that their patients undergo a lung transplant. Often this is the most effective method of combating the disease, especially in severe and advanced cases.
Forecast
In some patients, against the background of HFD, heart failure develops, as well as high blood pressure in the vessels of the lungs. The chances of a patient recovering or worsening the course of the disease depend on the causes of their development, the severity and time of diagnosis. It should be noted that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a rather poor prognosis.