Preclinical interstitial lung disease in relatives of familial pulmonary fibrosis patients

Abstract

Family history is amongst the strongest risk factors for interstitial lung disease (ILD), with emerging evidence for a shared genetic aetiology across ILD subtypes. Recruited families comprised at least two first-degree relatives who had been previously diagnosed with an ILD. All living cases and available unaffected first-degree relatives underwent a clinical examination for evidence of ILD. Preclinical ILD was diagnosed in 47.7% of first-degree relatives who had previously self-reported as unaffected. This study highlights the strong genetic predisposition in family members of ILD cases, and supports the call for routine screening of individuals with a family history of ILD.