[Ambulatory care of interstitial lung diseases]

Clinical symptoms, radiological finding and functional results of patients with interstitial lung diseases were followed in a dispensary about 10 years. We compared the progress of 10 patients with pulmonary fibrosis histologically proved and of 19 patients without any previous evidence of fibrosis but suspicious of developing fibrosis at present. In both groups we found a rising proportion of patients suffering from dyspnoe on exertion and from increasing impairment. Functionally a significant decrease of the vital capacity was found especially in patients with fibrosis. The course of oxygen tension during physical exercise on a bicycle ergometer was well correlated to the dyspnoe on exertion. An airflow obstruction already existing at the start of the observation period was found to have an unfavourable influence on the progress of the interstitial lung disease. Eight patients being suspicious of a developing fibrosis were investigated clinically. On 5 patients a pulmonary fibrosis could be confirmed. A treatment using corticoids was started. To find a progression of a known interstitial lung disease in due time, it is necessary to check thoroughly these patients functionally and radiologically in a dispensary at regular intervals.