Chronic Interstitial Lung Diseases

Chronic Interstitial (Restrictive, Infiltrative) Lung Diseases

Bilateral, often patchy, pulmonary fibrosis primarily affecting the alveolar walls.
Reduced lung compliance, requiring increased effort to breathe (dyspnea).
Damage to the alveolar epithelium and interstitial vasculature, leading to abnormal ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) ratios and hypoxia.
Chest radiographs show small nodules, irregular lines, or ground-glass shadows.
In advanced stages, patients develop respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and cor pulmonale, with end-stage disease appearing as "honeycomb lung."