Interstitial Lung Diseases

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the name for more than 200 lung disorders that affect the interstitium, the tissue and space around the alveoli (air sacs). The interstitium is the tiny, fluid-filled tissue and space around the air sacs in the lungs.

In healthy people, the interstitium is very thin. In interstitial lung diseases, the interstitium thickens and scars. Over time, the scarring can cause lung stiffness and eventually affect breathing.

People with interstitial lung disease find it hard to get enough oxygen into their bloodstream. If you have an interstitial lung disease, other compartments of your lungs can also be affected, including:

• Alveoli
• Airways (trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles)
• Blood vessels
• Pleura (outside lining of the lung).

Some types of interstitial lung disease include:

• Asbestosis – interstitial lung disease caused by asbestos exposure
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – chronic, progressive scarring of the interstitium (idiopathic means that the cause is unknown)
• Interstitial pneumonia – bacteria, viruses, or fungi infect the interstitium
• Nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis – interstitial lung disease that often occurs with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma
• Sarcoidosis – abnormal nodules, called sarcoid granulomas, appear in the body’s tissues.

What are the possible procedures and treatments for interstitial lung disease?

Treatment for interstitial lung disease depends on the type of disease you have. Your treatment plan may include:

• Antibiotics – medicines that fight bacterial infections
• Antifibrotics – medications that can slow the disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Bronchodilators – inhaled medicines that help to open up your airways. If you are prescribed an inhaler (or puffer), it's important to use it correctly so that your lungs can benefit from the medication. Read through the National Asthma Council of Australia's Inhaler Checklist to see if you are using your puffer correctly.
• Immunosuppression – medicines that reduce inflammation and swelling in your airways
• Oxygen therapy – oxygen can help to reduce shortness of breath, protect your organs and enhance your quality of life
• Pulmonary rehabilitation – in a rehabilitation service, a team of health professionals can teach you about how to manage your interstitial lung disease and monitor your condition, covering exercise, disease management, and counselling to help you stay as healthy and active as possible; this can improve symptoms of breathlessness and exercise capacity
• Surgery – in severe cases, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove diseased lung tissue or replace a diseased lung with a healthy one (lung transplant).