[Treatment of auto-immune diseases with special reference to their pulmonary manifestations (author's transl)]

The treatment of the Goodpasture syndrome, collagenoses (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, progressive systemic sclerosis/scleroderma, matosus, progressive systemic sclerosis/scleroderma, dermatomyositis/polymyositis), necrotizing angiitis (periarteritis nodosa, Wegener's granulomatosis) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is reviewed. Their pathogenesis and morbid anatomy is outlined. The uncommunness of these disorders and their pulmonary manifestations is emphasized. The most frequently employed therapeutic agent are the corticosteroids together with acetylsalicylic acid and indomethacin. The effectiveness of immuno-suppressive and cytostatic drugs (azothioprine, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil) and of D-penicillamine in the treatment of the different disorders is described. Standard programmes for treating any of these diseases have not yet emerged; the long-term results tend do be unsatisfactory. Co-operation with other specialists (nephrologists, rheumatologists, dermatologists) is often necessary in the treatment of these disorders.