Pulmonary function tests.
Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in SSc patients. In autopsy studies, up to 70% of the SSc patients show histological evidence of lung involvement. In surgical lung biopsies from SSc-ILD patients, a pattern of non-specific interstitial pneumonia is present in a majority, while usual interstitial pneumonia is found in a more variable proportion of patients. Up to 90% of the SSc patients have lung function abnormalities, especially with respect to gas transfer. Pulmonary function testing, therefore, is a major tool of investigation of lung involvement in SSc.
Behr
J
J
Department of Internal Medicine, Grosshadern clinic, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany. jbehr@med1.med.uni-muenchen.de
Furst
D E
DE
D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D011379:Prognosis; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity