CHEST Immersion Interstitial Lung Disease-CTD ILD: What Do We Know?

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Kristen Highland, Director of the Rheumatic Lung Disease Program at the Cleveland Clinic, discusses the topic of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). CTD-ILD refers to a group of over 200 diseases characterized by lung inflammation and fibrosis. Scleroderma is the most common CTD associated with interstitial lung disease, followed by mixed connective tissue disease, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, antisynthetase syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnosis of CTD-ILD can be challenging as it may present before signs and symptoms of the connective tissue disease become apparent. CT scans can help identify interstitial lung abnormalities, but their clinical significance remains unclear. Treatment options for CTD-ILD include immunomodulators and antifibrotics, with tocilizumab and nintedanib being FDA-approved for scleroderma-associated ILD. However, there is a lack of well-powered clinical trials for other connective tissue diseases. The management of CTD-ILD requires a multidisciplinary approach and regular monitoring of lung function. Further research is needed to determine optimal treatment strategies and biomarkers for CTD-ILD.

Keywords

CTD-ILD

lung inflammation

fibrosis

Scleroderma

treatment options

multidisciplinary approach