Diseases of the Lung and Respiratory Tract Part

Usual Interstitial Pneumonitis
• Most common pattern of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Usually ages 50+
• 50% have unknown cause with insidious onset
(exertional dyspnea) and chronic evolution;
complications include secondary pulmonary
hypertension, cor pulmonale, cardiac failure
• Reduced diffusing capacity is mainly due to ventilationperfusion
mismatch from ventilation of lung tissue with
capillary destruction and perfusion of under ventilated
alveoli
• Treatment: steroids (20% improve)
• Mean survival 6 years, mortality 66%