Interstitial Lung DiseaseInterstitial Lung DiseaseInterstitial Lung DiseaseInterstitial Lung Disease

Prof. FA Carey

Pulmonary interstitiumPulmonary interstitium

Alveolar lining cells (types 1 and 2)

Thin elastin-rich connective component containing capillary blood vessels

Interstitial lung diseaseInterstitial lung disease

Early stage is alveolitis (injury with inflammatory cell infiltration)

Late stage characterised by fibrosis

Clinical effects due to hypoxia (respiratory failure) and cardiac failure

Causes….Causes….

Environmental (minerals, drugs, radiation. Post-ARDS) Hypersensitivity (mouldy hay, avian proteins)

Unknown (idiopathic) Connective tissue diseases Fibrosing alveolitisDiagnosis based on clinical features often with

biopsy

Biopsy in interstitial lung disease…Biopsy in interstitial lung disease…

Transbronchial biopsy – special forceps used at bronchoscopy

Thoracoscopic biopsy – more invasive but more reliable and generates far more tissue

Chronic Chronic Interstitial DiseaseInterstitial Disease

Fibrosing alveolitis Sarcoidosis Extrinsic allergic alveolitis

(hypersensitivity pneumonitis) Pneumoconiosis Connective tissue diseases

Fibrosing AlveolitisFibrosing Alveolitis

aka cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA), usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)

Progressive interstitial fibrosis of unknown cause

Variable associated inflammation Finger clubbing

PathologyPathology

Subpleural and basal fibrosis Inflammatory component variable Terminally lung structure replaced by

dilated spaces surrounded by fibrous walls

Fibrosing alveolitis (early)Fibrosing alveolitis (early)

Fibrosing alveolitis (late – Fibrosing alveolitis (late – honeycombing)honeycombing)

Honeycombing – Honeycombing – basal/subpleural (a splint!)basal/subpleural (a splint!)

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis)(hypersensitivity pneumonitis)

Chronic inflammatory disease

Small airways Interstitium Occasional granulomas

Allergic origin Type III

hypersensitivity Type IV

hypersensitivity

EAA – inflammatory interstitial EAA – inflammatory interstitial expansionexpansion

EAA - granulomaEAA - granuloma

Causes of EAACauses of EAA

Thermophilic bacteria – Farmers lung Avian proteins – Bird fanciers lung Fungi – Malt workers lung

Precipitins (antibodies) often detectable in serum. Unusual cases come to biopsy.

SarcoidosisSarcoidosis

Multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown cause (defined by histological means)

Pulmonary involvement is common Most cases mild and self-limiting

Other manifestations of Other manifestations of sarcoidosissarcoidosis

Uveitis (inflammation of iris) Erythema nodosum Lymphadenopathy Hypercalcaemia

Transbronchial biopsy - sarcoidosisTransbronchial biopsy - sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis - granulomaSarcoidosis - granuloma

Apical scarring in sarcoidosisApical scarring in sarcoidosis

Sarcoid – scarring and burnt-out Sarcoid – scarring and burnt-out granulomasgranulomas

Sarcoid - granulomasSarcoid - granulomas

Pulmonary involvement in connective Pulmonary involvement in connective tissue diseases tissue diseases

Interstitial fibrosis (milder than fibrosing alveolitis)

Pleural effusions Rheumatoid nodules

Rheumatoid noduleRheumatoid nodule

Rheumatoid noduleRheumatoid nodule

PneumoconiosisPneumoconiosis

Lung disease caused by mineral dust exposure

• Asbestosis• Coal workers lung• Silicosis

Thin whole mount section of a coal-Thin whole mount section of a coal-workers lung (unstained)workers lung (unstained)

Coal miner with progressive massive Coal miner with progressive massive fibrosis (unstained)fibrosis (unstained)

Disease depends on….Disease depends on….

Particle size (1-5m) Reactivity of particle Clearance of particle Host response

Asbestos Asbestos

A silicate Serpentine (curved) asbestos fibres

relatively safe Straight (amphibole) asbestos highly

dangerous

Asbestos…Asbestos…

Parietal pleural plaques Interstitial fibrosis (asbestosis) Bronchial carcinoma Mesothelioma

Asbestosis bodies (from human Asbestosis bodies (from human lung)lung)

Association of asbestos bodies with Association of asbestos bodies with fibrosis (asbestosis)fibrosis (asbestosis)

Pleural plaque on diaphragmPleural plaque on diaphragm