Obstructive disease involving peripheral airways has been noted in diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease, including sarcoidosis and cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. The possibility of obstruction of small airways in systemic sclerosis has been suggested by widespread bronchiolectasis and peribronchial fibrosis noted at necropsy. Findings suggests that diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease due to SSc generally does not lead to functional evidence of obstruction in peripheral airways and that the latter is found it can likely be attributed to the effects of concomitant cigarette smoking.
Small airways disease and a diffusion capacity impairment were the most frequent and marked functional abnormalities in the whole group and were often present in asymptomatic patients. Different lung function defects seemed to be present in each disease group. In fact, large airway obstruction was prevalent in progressive systemic sclerosis, diffusion capacity impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus and small airways disease in rheumatoid arthritis.
Scleroderma Lung Disease â Other Lung Complications in Systemic Sclerosis: Maria do Socorro Teixeira Moreira Almeida
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Last date updated on April, 2024