AUTHOR=Althobiani Malik A. , Russell Anne-Marie , Jacob Joseph , Ranjan Yatharth , Folarin Amos A. , Hurst John R. , Porter Joanna C. 

TITLE=Interstitial lung disease: a review of classification, etiology, epidemiology, clinical diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1296890

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1296890

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an umbrella term for approximately 200 different diseases that may result in inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue (Figure 1) [1]. ILD is characterised by progressive dyspnoea, cough, hypoxia, impaired lung function, diffuse bilateral infiltrates on imaging, inflammation, fibrosis, limited patient mobility and reduced quality-of-life (QOL)[2]. Most ILD cases result from an aetiological factor, such as exposure to allergens, hazardous material, asbestos, drugs or an underlying autoimmune disease [1-4]. The development of these cases is a complex process that is influenced by a variety of factors, including the individual's genetic traits, and exposure to environmental pollutants [5]. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is the most aggressive form of ILD, causing progressive and permanent lung scarring. It causes a chronic and irreversible lung disease with a poor prognostic outcome with a median survival rate of 3-5 years post-diagnosis [4, 6, 7]. Although two antifibrotic medications demonstrated a significant reduction in the rate of disease progression, it remains difficult to predict disease behaviour for individual patients [4, 6, 7]. The purpose of this review is to provide up-to-date information on interstitial lung disease (ILD), with a particular emphasis on definition, classifications, aetiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological management.