Which connective tissue disorders can result in interstitial disease?
Scleroderma , or progressive systemic sclerosis , has the highest incidence of interstitial fibrosis among all connective tissue disorders. Rheumatoid arthritis has the highest prevalence of interstitial disease because it is one of the most common connective tissue disorders and may occasionally cause interstitial fibrosis. Dermatomyositis/polymyositis may also result in interstitial fibrosis. By virtue of its potential to overlap with progressive systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or dermatomyositis/polymyositis, mixed connective tissue disorder may also cause interstitial fibrosis. Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of the most prevalent connective tissue disorders but only rarely produces clinically significant interstitial fibrosis. Although pathologic and radiologic studies may show mild abnormalities, it is quite rare for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus to have respiratory symptoms related to interstitial fibrosis. When these disorders cause interstitial fibrosis, they produce a peripheral reticular interstitial pattern on chest radiography.
