Early Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Differential Diagnosis with Interstitial Lung Lesions in Patients with Systemic Immune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases
Interstitial pneumonia remains understudied and potentially life-threatening manifestation of systemic immune inflammatory rheumatic diseases. At the same time an accurate diagnosis of interstitial lung disease not only affects the overall management strategy, but also strictly determines therapeutic decisions: active observation without therapy, administration of systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or antifibrotic therapy. In this regard a multidisciplinary approach involving rheumatologist to diagnose and treat patients with interstitial lung disease seems reasonable and promising.