Current opinion in pulmonary medicine
-
There is growing speculation that idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) is, in reality, a grouping of separate disorders with a common histologic pattern. In this review, distinct clinical, imaging, and serologic features providing support for this premise are detailed and discussed. ⋯ The concept of idiopathic NSIP as a grouping of separate disorders with a common histologic pattern provides a template for potentially important pathogenetic insights.
-
Up to twenty percent of patients with sarcoidosis develop pulmonary fibrosis, transforming an often benign disease into a highly morbid and potentially fatal one. We highlight the fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis phenotype as an area of intense clinical and translational investigation, review recent developments in treatment, and provide a roadmap for future research in sarcoidosis associated pulmonary fibrosis. ⋯ Understanding the mechanisms of fibrotic transformation in sarcoidosis enhances clinical care and facilitates development of novel therapeutic options. The impact of these findings in fibrotic sarcoidosis may be amplified through application to other interstitial lung diseases marked by inflammatory to fibrotic transformation. Important aspects of clinical management of fibrotic sarcoidosis include surveillance for co-morbidities, such as pulmonary hypertension, airway disease, and infection, and assessment for pulmonary disease activity that may benefit from immunosuppression.