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Overview of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias

By

Joyce Lee

, MD, MAS, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Reviewed/Revised Jul 2023
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Topic Resources

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias are interstitial lung diseases that have no known cause that have some similarities in symptoms and how they affect the lungs.

  • Some types of these diseases are much more serious than others.

  • Diagnosis requires chest x-rays, computed tomography, and occasionally analysis of a sample of lung tissue (biopsy).

  • Treatment depends on the disease type.

The word idiopathic means of unknown cause, so when the cause of interstitial lung disease is not identified, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is diagnosed. Pneumonias are often thought of as infections, but these diseases do not appear to result from infection.

There are eight types of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. In decreasing order of frequency, they are

All types cause cough and shortness of breath and affect the lungs similarly. The ends of the fingers may become thick or club-shaped (see figure ). Through a stethoscope, doctors often hear crackling sounds. Although symptoms may be similar, disorders differ in how quickly symptoms develop, how they are treated, and how serious they are.

Table

Diagnosis of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias

  • Chest computed tomography

Computed tomography (CT) of the chest is the main imaging tool used in the evaluation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. CT may allow doctors to make a diagnosis. If not, doctors remove a small sample of lung tissue for examination under a microscope (lung biopsy). Usually, biopsy is done surgically with use of a thoracoscope Thoracoscopy Thoracoscopy is the visual examination of the lung surfaces and pleural space through a viewing tube (a thoracoscope). Thoracoscopy is used to view the lung and the space surrounding the lungs... read more .

Treatment of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias

  • Smoking cessation

  • Often drugs, corticosteroids or novel antifibrotic drugs, depending on the disease

  • Sometimes lung transplantation

Other treatments depend on the type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia but may include corticosteroids or other drugs, such as novel antifibrotic drugs.

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