Rising mortality from cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a metal‐working environment

“…The screening tools we have available are imperfect. ILD is an increasingly common disease [Johnson et al, 1990;Coultas et al, 1994] and remains in great part unexplained; some portion may be attributable to mixed exposures such as were seen here, although no speci®c agent could be identi®ed. The process that generated disease in this outbreak may not be restricted to metal-working environments but may represent a far more widespread problem associated with water management.…”

Rheumatoid Arthritis–Interstitial Lung Disease–associated Mortality

“…We were unable to identify any peer-reviewed studies regarding the accuracy of rheumatological disease coding; however, previous investigations have found that ''pulmonary fibrosis'' (defined by ICD-9 codes 516. (24,25). We do not know whether underreporting occurs in other diagnostic codes for ILD, but it probably does.…”

Viruses and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

“…Egan*, A.A. Woodcock*, J.P. Stewart # Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an increasingly recognized problem with a generally poor prognosis [1]. Fifty per cent of patients diagnosed as having IPF may be expected to die within 4 yrs of the diagnosis [2].…”