Use of ultrasound to evaluation interstitial lung disease in rheumatic disease

Abstract

Interstitial lung disease is one of the most relevant extra-articular manifestations of rheumatic diseases resulting in a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and close monitoring to identify patients at risk of progression are crucial to establish the need for targeted treatment with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic drugs, with potential ability to change the course of the disease. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the standard radiographic technique to diagnose lung involvement in patients suffering from respiratory symptoms or presenting with a pathological pulmonary function test. HRCT is able to detect changes in the lung before they are apparent on conventional X-ray. Recently, sonography of the lung was introduced as a safe and easily available method for detecting lung fibrosis, bronchiolitis or pneumothorax Sonographic signs like tissue B-lines, irregularities of the pleura or the absence of lung sliding might be a suitable screening tool for lung involvement. In this context, lung ultrasound (LUS) is an attractive tool in a growing research and validation process.