Aetiological panorama in the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases

Objective: To assess demographic characters, clinical context and aetiological profile of interstitial lung diseases. Methods: A retrospective study of all cases of interstitial lung diseases observed in our chest clinic in Oran town during the period 2010-2013.Collection of information was done by informational system of interstitial lung disease. High-resolution computed tomography scan reading was done by three trained investigators. Data were analysed by epi-info software package. Results: Of 131 cases were counted which represent an incidence in hospital of 10% during this period (2010-2013).The mean age was 55 years, the modal age was 60 year with a frequency of 60% in females. Taking drugs was present in 14% cases ,active and passive smoking ,respectively 26% and 19% .About 50% of patients presented a cough with dyspnoea and 16% extrathoracic symptoms.23% of cases had a classical usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern on high-resolution computed tomography and 76% of cases had features considered to be inconsistent with UIP pattern. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoïdosis represented 41% of cases, followed by miliary tuberculosis 11,4%,lymphangitis carcinoma 9,9%,hypersensitivity pneumonitis 9,1%,undetermined interstitial lung disease 7,6% and connectivite 5,3%. Conclusion: Hospital morbidity of interstitial lung diseases for a long time unknown is now growing with input from high-resolution computed tomography. The emergence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the most devastating form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, needs an earlier and more confident diagnosis.