Non-specific interstitial pneumonia; as the first clinical presentation of various collagen vascular disorders

Rheumatol Int. 2006 Apr;26(6):551-5. doi: 10.1007/s00296-005-0028-9. Epub 2005 Nov 8.

Abstract

Recently, we have experienced significant numbers of patients diagnosed with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) by open lung biopsy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The purpose of this work was to describe the clinical features of patients with collagen vascular disorders (CVD) presenting NSIP in the absence of systemic involvement. This study also involved a retrospective review of patients with CVD presenting clinical and pathological evidence of NSIP in the absence of systemic manifestations of CVD. We found seven patients (six from our experience and one from literature review) with histologically proven NSIP who later developed typical CVD more than 6 months after the first presentation of NSIP. In these cases, it was difficult to speculate the development of CVD at the point of first presentation. Therefore, association of CVD should be considered in patients with NSIP even in the absence of classical systemic involvement.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Collagen Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Collagen Diseases / drug therapy
  • Collagen Diseases / pathology
  • Collagen Diseases / surgery
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / etiology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Vascular Diseases / pathology
  • Vascular Diseases / surgery
  • Video-Assisted Surgery

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Steroids
  • Cyclophosphamide