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Interstitial Lung Abnormalities (ILA) and Pulmonary Fibrosis

  • REVIEW
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review identifies the similarities and differences between interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and pulmonary fibrosis in terms of clinical relevance, radiological features, histological features, genetics, pathophysiology, and biomarkers, and presents clinical management with a focus on ILA and future perspectives.

Recent Findings

ILA and pulmonary fibrosis, especially idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, may share common biological, radiological, and histopathological features and are increasingly understood as a spectrum of fibrotic interstitial lung diseases. ILA, especially subpleural fibrotic subtype, are associated with radiological progression and increased mortality and are clinically important for early risk detection of pulmonary fibrosis. Traction bronchiectasis/bronchiolectasis index (TBI) is particularly valuable to further stratify the prognosis of ILA individuals.

Summary

To improve the prognosis of patients with pulmonary fibrosis, further advances in a multifaceted approach to understand the spectrum of pulmonary fibrosis and stratify the risk of progression to pulmonary fibrosis in ILA individuals are warranted.

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Funding

HH is supported by NIH R01CA203636, 5U01CA209414, NIH/NHLBI, 2R01HL111024, NIH R01HL135142, and NIH/NHLBI 1R01HL130974.

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Author notes

  1. Noriaki Wada and Hiroto Hatabu are affiliated with iPNet, an image-based phenotyping network.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Pulmonary Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Noriaki Wada & Hiroto Hatabu

  2. Department of Radiology, Samsung ChangWon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine (SKKU-SOM), ChangWon, 51353, Republic of Korea

    Kyung Soo Lee

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  1. Noriaki Wada
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N.W. wrote the original manuscript. K.S.L. and H.H. reviewed and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Noriaki Wada.

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Conflict of Interest

HH reports grants from Canon Medical Systems Inc and Konica-Minolta Inc; and consulting fees from Mitsubishi Chemical Co and Canon Medical Systems Inc, outside the submitted work. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Wada, N., Lee, K.S. & Hatabu, H. Interstitial Lung Abnormalities (ILA) and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Curr Pulmonol Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-024-00350-3

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