Small airways dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis and interstitial lung disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A number of studies report small airways involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Furthermore, small airways dysfunction is increasingly recognized in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) of idiopathic or autoimmune etiology. The objectives of this study were to evaluate small airways function in SSc patients with ILD and explore the effect of treatment on small airways function by using conventional and contemporary pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Methods

This single-center, prospective, observational study included a total of 35 SSc patients, with and without ILD based on HRCT scan, evaluated by a special radiologist blindly. Clinical data were collected from all patients who were also assessed for HRCT findings of small airways disease.

SUBMITTER: Panagopoulos PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9702077 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature