Interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue diseases: diagnosis and treatment approaches

Connective tissue diseases are a diverse group of immunologically mediated systemic disorders that often lead to thoracic changes. There are huge differences between epidemiological studies depending upon method of ascertainment and selection criteria regarding the incidence of respiratory involvement due to connective tissue diseases. However, increased mortality and morbidity develops pulmonary involvement due to connective tissue diseases. Interstitial lung disease constitute an important group in this respect and it is estimated that the overall incidence of 15%. Today, still diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, prognosis of IInterstitial lung disease due to Connective tissue diseases (CTD-ILD) related clinical problems have been experienced. The diagnostic methods of disease include clinical approach, pulmonary function tests, high-resolution computed tomography, bronchoalveolar lavage and surgical lung biopsy. Treatment and selection of drugs are still controversial. In this review, a CTD-ILD, separately for each diagnosis, pulmonary function tests and radiological features, prognosis and treatment approaches were evaluated.