Retrospective study of interstitial lung disease in a tertiary care centre in India.

BACKGROUND

There has been a recent surge in the recognition of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in India.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study based on the available medical records of 274 patients with biopsy proven ILD seen during the period 1994-2001 at our tertiary care referral hospital.

RESULTS

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (43%), sarcoidosis (22%), ILDs secondary to collagen vascular disease (19%) and extrinsic allergic alveolitis, among others, were the most common aetiological causes of ILD. The diagnostic yield from transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) was high (96%).

CONCLUSIONS

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) appear to be under-reported from India. Lack of recognition and inadequate availability of diagnostic facilities, like high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest may be some of the reasons for this. The diagnostic yield from TBLB in our study was high at 96 percent. The TBLB may be used as the initial, cost-effective and safe tool for confirmation of aetiological diagnosis in most patients with diffuse parenchymal lung diseases.