The occurrence of interstitial lung disease in the progression of a systemic disease (also known by the term “connectivitis”) is a complication that is feared because of its potentially fatal outcome. Among the muscular diseases, this particularly applies to antisynthetase syndrome and to certain cases of dermatomyositis.
A group of Japanese experts, consisting of internists, pulmonologists, radiologists and rheumatologists, have published, based on data from the literature and their personal experiences, a guide to:
- fine-tuning the diagnostic criteria, particularly those of a clinical and radiological nature, for this type of lung disease,
- establishing a course of action to take in terms of treatment, taking into account recent progress in this area.
