[Variants and stages in the course of idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis].

Clinicomorphological analysis covered 41 cases of idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis (IFA). The comparison of the degree of respiratory insufficiency, hypoxia, survival of the patients with cytogram of the bronchoalveolar lavage, morphological findings, generation of active oxygen forms by alveolar macrophages and leukocytes has provided evidence on an important role of alveolar macrophage in interstitial alveolitis and fibrosis in IFA. Three variants of chronic IFA are distinguished: aggressive, persistent and slowly progressive. The variants have different prognosis and need individual therapeutic approach.