Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease: a series of 60 patients

<bold>Background:</bold> Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common manifestation of connective tissue diseases (CTD) marking a turning point in terms of functional and vital prognosis. <bold>Objectives:</bold> We aim to investigate the characteristics of ILD in CTD. <bold>Methods:</bold> We conducted a retrospective study in a department of internal medicine between January 2015 and September 2023 to explore patients with CTD/ILD. Features of CTD/ILD (group1) were compared to features of non-CTD/ILD (group 2). <bold>Results:</bold> From a series of 204 patients following for ILD, we collected 60 patients with CTD/ILD (29%). 42 women (70%) and 18 men (30%) were included. The mean age at diagnosis of the ILD was 60 years. CTD/ILD was caused by primary Sjögren syndrome (22cases: 36%), inflammatory myopathy (17cases: 28%), rheumatoid arthritis (9 cases: 15%), systemic sclerosis (7 cases: 11,6%), scleromyositis (2 cases), systemic erythematosus lupus (2 cases), and mixed connective tissue disease (1 case). The main statistically significant differences between group1 and group2 were the presence of extra-pulmonary symptoms (86,7% vs 62,5%; p=0), especially dry eyes (53% vs 35%; p=0,017), inflammatory arthralgias (34% vs 16,8%; p=0,006), Raynaud syndrome (23% vs 3,5%; p=0), and proximal muscular weakness (13% vs 2%; p=0,003); the presence of major dystrophies in the capillaroscopy (24,5% vs 2,6% ; p=0); the scannographic patterns nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (35% vs 13% ; p=0,001) and organizing pneumonia (15% vs 3% ; p=0,003); and the positivity of immunological tests (90% vs 47%; p=0). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Etiological diagnosis of ILD is often a challenging process. Knowing the features significantly associated with CTD/ILD makes a major contribution.