Pulmonary lesion associated with collagen vascular diseases: interstitial pneumonia

Various pulmonary lesions can be found in patients with collagen vascular diseases. Not only the diseases but also treatment with various drugs relate to an occurrence of the pulmonary lesions such as infection, drug reaction, bronchiolitis and interstitial pneumonias. We focused on interstitial pneumonias based on our own experiences with patients whose lesions were diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy. Incidence of the interstitial pneumonias and diagnostic problems before biopsy using HRCT and BAL were evaluated. Comparison of interstitial pneumonias between idiopathic and associated with collagen vascular diseases is a problem to be solved.