There is nothing more important to a human being than breathing. Even short pauses are not allowed. Humans can only live by breathing.
Interstitial lung disease is a disease that causes abnormalities in the wall-like structure that maintains the alveolus, that is, the interstitium, causing it to thicken, inflammation or fibrosis, resulting in decreased function and symptoms such as dyspnea and cough. It includes more than 200 different diseases that result from epilepsy damage. The lung interstitium is the tissue that supports the alveolar walls and alveoli, where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. It is completely different from epilepsy, which is called epilepsy.
“Interstitial lung disease is a terrifying disease that gradually shortens breathing as the lungs deteriorate due to fibrosis, and eventually even interferes with life,” said Kim Kyung-hoon, a professor of respiratory medicine at the Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital. If this continues, we may have doubts.”
◇Unknown cause… Suspicion if shortness of breath or dry cough persists
The cause of interstitial lung disease is still unknown. However, it is estimated that various factors such as smoking, dust, gastroesophageal reflux disease, infection, heredity, environment, and viruses, etc. influence genetic predisposition. In the process of healing the inflammation of the lungs caused by certain risk factors, fibroblasts proliferate and fibrosis of the lungs progresses.
However, many cases of interstitial lung disease are diagnosed as idiopathic with unknown etiology. A typical disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which accounts for regarding two-thirds of idiopathic interstitial lung disease.
Interstitial lung disease is most common in the late 50s to 70s. The prevalence rate is 81 for men and 67 for women per 100,000 people, 1.2 times higher in men. After diagnosis, the 5-year survival rate is regarding 40% and the 10-year survival rate is 15%, so the prognosis is very poor.
Symptoms vary, but the most characteristic symptom is shortness of breath, which is continuously worsening. In addition, coughing, wheezing (wheezing), non-specific chest pain, and sometimes hemoptysis may be present. Symptoms develop at a different pace and pace from patient to patient over months to years.
Interstitial lung disease is not easy to diagnose. This is because the disease group includes a very diverse and wide range of diseases, and there are still many unknown diseases.
For diagnosis, lung function tests, high-resolution chest CT (computed tomography) or bronchoalveolar lavage through a bronchoscope, and lung biopsy are essential. In addition, blood tests are often performed to confirm whether there is an autoimmune disease.
Professor Kim Kyung-hoon of the Department of Pulmonology at Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital said, “With the development of high-resolution chest CT images, many parts have been replaced by imaging tests, but even if the same imaging findings are shown, there is a possibility that the imaging findings may be due to other causes. It is recommended that you seek help from a prosecutor.”
In addition, “As the prognosis and treatment policy vary greatly depending on the cause of interstitial lung disease, a lung biopsy is often required if the patient has respiratory difficulties or lung function is permitted.” It is a lot easier and less scarring than in the past because it is done through the
◇Accurate diagnosis and treatment are important… Lung biopsy is very helpful in diagnosis
Interstitial lung disease is a representative intractable disease that responds well to treatment, but often does not respond to treatment. Different treatments are applied for each disease.
However, with the recent development of drugs and increased understanding of the disease, anti-fibrotic drugs are being prescribed when idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is diagnosed, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids and immunosuppressants are prescribed for non-specific interstitial lung disease. In some cases, lung transplantation may be considered.
Professor Kim Kyung-hoon said, “The prognosis of interstitial lung disease depends on how accurately it is diagnosed, so accurate diagnosis and treatment are very important. Although it is a disease with a very poor prognosis with an average lifespan of
