Interstitial lung disease in the course of systemic connective tissue diseases: A common problem for rheumatologists and pulmonologists

Abstract

Interstitial lung disease is a common and dangerous complication of many rheumatic diseases. Progress over the last several years has increased diagnostic capabilities, led to emergence of new therapeutic options and, above all, resulted in deeper awareness of the severity of the problem. Interstitial diseases are a heterogeneous group differentiated through histopathological and imaging examinations. Prognosis and recommended therapy depend not only on the form of the interstitial disease, but also largely on its underlying rheumatic disease. The aim of this article is to present the pathology that is the interstitial lung disease and the current knowledge on its treatment.