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Interstitial lung diseases: a clinical update

In recent years there have been important initiatives leading to a better founded management of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs; synonymous with diffuse parenchymal lung diseases). There have been clinicopathological definitions of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and international consensus statements and guidelines have been published, or are in preparation, concerning the different diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, with specific focus on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis. Tests less invasive than open or thoracoscopic lung biopsies have emerged as being useful in the assessment of disease pattern, severity and activity of several diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. Of these, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) should be highlighted.

However, many questions on diffuse parenchymal lung diseases still await more accurate and precise answers. To date, epidemiological data remain scarce and rather selective. Aetiology is very often unknown, although the influence of exogenous factors is increasingly suspected. The mechanisms of individual differences in susceptibility to developing diffuse parenchymal lung disease are still not understood. Answers to these questions are important for a more adequate management of these diseases.

The purpose of the international symposium on "Interstitial lung disease: a clinical update", held at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium on March 23–25, 2000, was to provide a balanced update of these issues. Some 40 clinical and basic researchers and recognized experts on diffuse parenchymal lung diseases from Europe were gathered to prepare the present publication. The experts were divided into three working groups and each group was assigned the task of producing a working group report comprising epidemiology, susceptibility to disease, and genetic factors. Individual participants in each working group were also invited to provide shorter selected reports for inclusion. In addition to the working group reports, selected reviews were commissioned on the most frequent diffuse lung diseases and the Supplement, therefore, includes these reviews in addition to the working group reports.

This symposium was accredited as a "European School of Respiratory Medicine" seminar, and was generously sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, Belgium, in the framework of the "GlaxoWellcome Chair of Respiratory Pharmacology" attributed to G.M. Verleden.

It is hoped that this supplement of the European Respiratory Journal will provide an interesting synthesis of the epidemiology, susceptibility and exogenous factors relevant to diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, with particular focus on areas of uncertainty, and also a clinical update of the most important interstitial lung diseases.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Demedts, M. Articles by Verleden, G.M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Demedts, M. Articles by Verleden, G.M.