Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Latent pulmonary inflammation in patients with systemic sclerosis
Sara Sánchez-Vidaurre1, Carmen Pilar Simeón, Maria Jesús Cruz
1Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Background:
Induced sputum is a non-invasive method for studying pulmonary inflammation.
Objectives:
To assess pulmonary inflammation by analysis of induced sputum specimens in patients with systemic sclerosis and lung involvement, and to determine whether there is a correlation with the pulmonary function alterations in these patients.
Methods:
Twenty-five patients with systemic sclerosis were included (20 women). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of lung involvement: group 1, diffuse interstitial lung disease (n=10); group 2, those with pulmonary arterial hypertension (n=7), and group 3, patients with systemic sclerosis without lung involvement (n=8). All patients underwent a complete lung function study. Induced sputum samples were obtained and differential cell count was performed by optic microscopy.
Results:
The mean percentage of sputum neutrophils was 85%, 71%, and 75% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A significant negative correlation between sputum total cell count and DLCO was seen in group 1 and group 3 (r=-0.733, P=.016; and r=-0.893, P=.007, respectively). This negative correlation was not observed in group 2.
Conclusions:
Pulmonary inflammation was present in all patients with systemic sclerosis included in the study, regardless of the presence of documented signs of pulmonary involvement. This finding suggests that induced sputum could be helpful for detecting early abnormalities indicative of subclinical pulmonary involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema
