Mazzoccoli G, De Cata A, De Pinto GD, De Matthaeis A, Vendemiale G. Immunopathogenetic and pharmacological aspects of interstitial lung diseases.
Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2011;
23:971-80. [PMID:
21244746 DOI:
10.1177/039463201002300401]
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Abstract
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are inflammatory diseases characterized by slow and progressive destruction of alveolar-capillary functional units, often leading to respiratory failure and death. A first stage of alveolitis and a following stage of fibrosis provoke an anatomical distortion of the peripheral airways and the interstitium, and for their smoldering evolution and non-specificity of symptoms ILDs may remain undiagnosed and untreated for a long time. In this review we exploited the immunopathogenetic aspects and the therapeutical approaches to this frequently unrecognized and severe disease.
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