New frontiers for rare pulmonary diseases.

This Issue of Sarcoidosis Vasculitis and Diffuse Lung Diseases is dedicated to a special event which was held in Milan in February 2005. The First International Conference on Rare Pulmonary Diseases and Orphan Drugs in Respiratory Medicine brought together for two days most of the leading world authorities in the field of interstitial lung diseases. Over 200 investigators from 9 different countries convened to assess current knowledge in the field of pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of rare lung disorders. An incredible amount of data was discussed during the meeting, testifying to the recent advances in the clinical management of these diseases.