[Juvenile onset of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia]

A 22-year-old first man came to our hospital because of dyspnea on exertion in February 1993, and was admitted in September 1994 because of progression of dyspnea. A chest roentgenogram showed diffuse ground-glass-opacities in the middle and lower lung fields, and an elevated diaphragm. Pulmonary-function testing revealed a low %VC and a low diffusing capacity. Examination of a specimen obtained by thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed usual interstitial pneumonia. Immunohistochemical examinations showed the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on vascular endothelial cells and on alveolar epithelial cells. Dust inhalation and collagen vascular disease were ruled out and the diagnosis was idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. This condition develops only rarely in patients under 60 years old.