Unusual Interstitial Lung Diseases
Disorder | Symptoms | Treatment | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Slow-developing (over weeks to months) or sudden, severe symptoms Shortness of breath Cough | Stopping the drug that is causing symptoms Corticosteroids (sometimes effective) | Many classes of drugs may cause this disease. The disease is often more severe in older people. The effects of some drugs on the lungs are similar to those of systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). The extent and severity of the disease are sometimes related to how large the drug dose was and how long the drug was taken. | |
Alveolar hemorrhage syndromes (bleeding in the lungs) | Most commonly, coughing up blood (hemoptysis) Anemia due to chronic blood loss Kidney failure (sometimes) | Corticosteroids and immunosuppressant medications (such as cyclophosphamide ) Blood transfusions if needed because of blood loss Oxygen therapy for a low level of oxygen in the blood | In these rare disorders, blood leaks from small, thin-walled blood vessels (capillaries), often because of an autoimmune reaction. People may have Goodpasture syndrome, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (iron in the lungs), or drug reactions. Massive bleeding can cause death. |
Difficulty breathing Cough Chest pain Sometimes coughing up blood | Lung transplantation Sirolimus | This rare disorder occurs in young women. It may worsen during pregnancy. |