Guide To Dermatomyositis Complications And Related Conditions

Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease is used to describe multiple disorders that affect an individual's lungs. The interstitial space in an individual's lungs is where the inhaled oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. Because dermatomyositis patients experience inflammation in the soft tissues around their body, the tissues inside of the lungs can easily become swollen and inflamed. When this inflammation in affected individual goes untreated, scarring or fibrosis begins to form in the lung tissues. Because scar tissue is thicker and denser than normal tissue, the interstitial spaces of the lungs can easily become functionally impaired. This mechanism causes the affected individual to experience respiratory symptoms, including breathlessness, sputum-producing cough, and a dry cough. Respiratory distress is a common manifestation in individuals with dermatomyositis who develop interstitial lung disease.

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