Diffuse interstitial lung fibrosis from childhood and adolescence to adult life.

Sixty-two patients with interstitial lung fibrosis in the age range 2 to 34 years were followed up from 3 to 26 years. The authors stress the important role of an experienced radiologist, who may make a correct diagnosis on the basis of a plain chest radiograph and who plays an important role in follow-up studies because the changing X-ray picture usually corresponds with functional spirometric findings. The diagnosis is established after clinical, radiological and spirometric examinations. Lung biopsy is necessary in atypical cases only. With the diagnosis established treatment with corticosteroids is given in an alternating way and favourable results may be expected in most cases. Six of the female patients have born seven fit children, all without chromosomal aberrations, after five to ten years of corticosteroid treatment.