Acute exacerbation of interstitial lung diseases secondary to systemic rheumatic diseases: a prospective study and review of the literature

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents one of the most frequent complication of many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, mainly rheumatoid arthritis (RA), connective tissue diseases (CTDs), and more rarely vasculitides. The clinical course of ILD secondary to CTD or vasculitis is variable, ranging from a slow progressive decline of lung function over time to a rapidly progressive course (1)