title: Determining respiratory impairment in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease.
abstract: Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) can affect the lungs through diseases of the chest wall, pleura, vasculature, airways, and parenchyma. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of CTD associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This article describes the evaluation of respiratory impairment in patients with CTD and summarizes the evidence that guides diagnosis and management of CTD-ILD. Patients with CTD with suspected ILD should undergo clinical, physiologic, and radiologic studies to evaluate for the presence of ILD, and these results should be integrated in a multidisciplinary setting to guide diagnosis and management. Screening for ILD may also be appropriate in asymptomatic patients with high-risk features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill University, 3755 Cote-Ste-Catherine, G-200, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada. Electronic address: Deborah.assayag@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Assayag
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Ward 8B, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ryerson
mesh_terms: D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003948:Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Connective tissue disease; Diagnosis; Interstitial lung disease; Pulmonary function testing; Respiratory impairment