Lung ultrasound in the evaluation of interstitial lung diseases in the course of connective tissue diseases

Abstract

Objectives: Patients with a diagnosed systemic connective tissue disease require regular monitoring from the point of view of interstitial lung disease. The main aim of this work is a description of the criteria for pulmonary fibrosis and the degree of the severity of the fibrosis during the course of interstitial lung disease through the LUS (lung ultrasonography). Materials and Methods: 52 patients with diagnosed diffuse interstitial lung disease were qualified for this research, together with 50 volunteers in the control group. The patients in both groups were over 18 years of age and were of both sexes. The results of the LUS of the patients underwent statistical analysis and were compared to High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) results. Results: As a consequence of the statistical analysis, we defined our own criteria for pulmonary fibrosis in LUS: irregularity of the pleura line, tightening of the pleura line, the fragmentary nature of the pleura line, blurring of the pleura line, thickening of the pleura line, artifacts of line B ≤ 3 and ≥ 4, artifacts of Am line and subpleural consolidations Conclusions: Lung ultrasonography (LUS) gives a new outlook on the diagnostic possibilities and devoid of ionising radiation, of pulmonary fibrosis.