Abstract
The interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a group of progressive disorders characterized
by chronic inflammation and/or fibrosis in the lung. While some ILDs can be linked
to specific environmental causes (i.e., asbestosis, silicosis), in many individuals,
no culprit exposure can be identified; these patients are deemed to have “idiopathic
interstitial pneumonia” (IIP). Family history is now recognized as the strongest risk
factor for IIP, and IIP cases that run in families comprise a syndrome termed “familial
interstitial pneumonia” (FIP). Mutations in more than 10 different genes have been
implicated as responsible for disease in FIP families. Diverse ILD clinical phenotypes
can be seen within a family, and available evidence suggests underlying genetic risk
is the primary determinant of disease outcomes. Together, these FIP studies have provided
unique insights into the pathobiology of ILDs, and brought focus on the unique issues
that arise in the care of patients with FIP.
Keywords
IPF - pulmonary fibrosis - genetics - telomere - surfactant - alveolar epithelial
cells