Correlation of chest roentgenograms with pulmonary function and bronchoalveolar lavage in interstitial lung disease

We used the ILO classification for occupational lung disease to determine whether there was any correlation between the type and/or severity of pulmonary infiltration on chest roentgenograms and either pulmonary function tests or the types of inflammatory cells present in BAL fluid in patients with interstitial lung disease. Of the 62 patients evaluated (27 with sarcoidosis, 18 with IPF, and 17 with a CV disease and lung involvement), 49 had irregular linear opacities and 13 had normal chest x-rays. There were no significant correlations between the types of cells present in BAL fluid and the various categories of infiltrate or profusion of the infiltrates within each disease group. In patients with sarcoidosis, more extensive infiltration (profusion) was associated with lower FEV, (p less than 0.01). In patients with IPE, linear opacity type, profusion, and the presence or absence of honeycombing were not related to the severity of pulmonary function abnormalities. We conclude that the ILO classification for analysis of chest roentgenograms can be applied to patients with interstitial lung disease not associated with an occupational exposure and that this approach is useful, especially for communication. However, these data provide no information regarding the inflammatory process in the lung and limited information regarding abnormalities in pulmonary function.