Clinico-Radiological Profile of Patients with Connective Tissue Disease (CTD) Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) At a Tertiary Care Center in India

Abstract

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a group of heterogenous disorders characterized by varying degree of fibrosis in lung [1]. Work-up for connective tissue diseases (CTDs) is an important component of evaluation of a patient with ILD. CTDs affect connective tissue in various organs resulting from poorly controlled autoimmune responses, and associated inflammation. Overall ILD has been documented in up-to 15% of patients with CTD, with rates as high as 26% in Systemic Sclerosis (SS) [2]. Lung involvement contributes to mortality in CTDs, and the management of ILDs depends on the presence and severity of underlying CTDs. Hence it is necessary to understand the clinical presentation of CTD-ILDs

Most studies about clinical presentation of CTD-ILD have been performed in western population, affecting the generalizability to the Indian population. In the present study, we attempt to describe the clinico-radiological characteristics of patients with CTD-ILD in India. This is a retrospective study, and we report the data from CTDILD patients who presented at tertiary care center in Northern India.