Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a broad term for a group of hundreds of lung diseases that cause lung inflammation, damage and, ultimately, pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs.

The scarring in the lungs causes stiffness and inhibits oxygen flow, making it difficult to breathe. ILD gets worse as time goes by and the scarring cannot be reversed, but treatments can help slow the disease’s progression.

Because there are so many types of ILD and diseases under the ILD umbrella, it is very important to get an accurate diagnosis prior to treatment.

Call 843-707-8040 to schedule an appointment with a member of our pulmonology team.

Interstitial Lung Disease Causes

It can be difficult to pinpoint a cause of ILD, but many things can contribute, including:

• Autoimmune disorders: These conditions cause the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. Autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and sarcoidosis, may lead to ILD.
• Medications and treatments: In some cases, medications, such as sulfonamides and certain forms of chemotherapy, as well as radiation treatment to the chest, can cause an ILD.
• Occupational exposures to harmful materials: This includes long-term exposure to coal dust, asbestos, cotton dust, beryllium, heavy metals and silica dust.
• Tobacco: Cigarette smoking may increase the risk of getting some forms of ILD.

Interstitial Lung Disease Symptoms

Symptoms of ILD include a dry cough and shortness of breath that comes on gradually and gets worse over time. As the disease progresses, fatigue, weight loss and joint pain may occur. When it is more advanced, ILD can cause blue lips, fingernails or skin and clubbing of the fingernails

There are no clear stages of ILD progression. Each person will have a unique experience with the disease and may have symptoms on a different timeline than someone else. That’s why it’s so important to accurately describe your symptoms to your doctor so he or she can determine the correct diagnosis.

Interstitial Lung Disease Treatment

The treatment guidelines for ILD vary and are highly dependent on the initial cause.

Common treatment includes:

• Avoidance of the known irritant
• Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the lungs
• Medications and treatments that suppress the body’s immune response
• Smoking cessation
• Oxygen therapy to keep adequate levels of oxygen in your bloodstream
• Pulmonary rehabilitation to improve lung function

Like many chronic diseases, you have the best chance at managing ILD in a team environment that includes you, your primary care provider, a pulmonologist, pharmacist, nurses and other healthcare professionals, to ensure you receive the best care and treatment possible. The pulmonology team at Beaufort Memorial can work with you to develop a plan that fits your condition and needs and help you learn how best to live with ILD.