Alveolitis: The key to the interstitial lung disorder

Abstract

The interstitial lung diseases are a heterogeneous group of chronic, non-infectious, non-malignant disorders that affect primarily the alveolar structures. The importance of the alveolitis is simply stated: while it is clear that the interstitial lung diseases are characterised by a variety of derangements to the cells and connective tissue matrix that comprise the alveolar structures, it is now recognised that it is the alveolitis that causes these derangements. As we will see, the concept of 'alveolitis' has caused a revolution in thinking that has completely changed the clinical approach to staging and treating patients with interstitial lung disease.