National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Interstitial Lung Diseases is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Interstitial lung disease is the name for a large group of diseases that inflame or scar the lungs. The inflammation and scarring make it hard to get enough oxygen. The scarring is called pulmonary fibrosis.
Breathing in dust or other particles in the air are responsible for some types of interstitial lung diseases. Specific types include
Other causes include autoimmune diseases or occupational exposures to molds, gases, or fumes. Some types of interstitial lung disease have no known cause.
Treatment depends on the type of exposure and the stage of the disease. It may involve medicines, oxygen therapy, or a lung transplant in severe cases.
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)