Multidisciplinary management of interstitial lung disease in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an Italian Delphi consensus

Although guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach for the diagnosis and management of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated interstitial lung disease (SARD-ILD), they lack guidance on MDT composition and function. This Delphi consensus project aimed to define a shared MDT model for managing patients with SARD-ILD. A questionnaire was circulated to an expert panel of 77 Italian pulmonologists, rheumatologists, immunologists, and internal medicine specialists, with statements rated over two voting rounds using a 5-point Likert scale. Response rates were 73% and 95% for the first and second rounds, respectively, after which consensus (≥ 66.6% agreement) was achieved for all the statements. Consensus statements and recommendations address the responsibilities of healthcare professionals involved in an MDT, including organization, referrals, management, and standard outcomes. Although limited to Italy, the current consensus project is the first attempt to define shared rules for MDTs in the context of SARD-ILD, but further work is needed to achieve international consensus on this topic.

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Publication Details

Journal
Respiratory Research
Published
2026-04-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-026-03660-z
Primary Topic
Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Type
article
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article

Multidisciplinary management of interstitial lung disease in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an Italian Delphi consensus

Giacomo Sgalla, Carlo Vancheri, Serena Guiducci, Andreina Manfredi et al.
Respiratory Research
Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
article

Multidisciplinary management of interstitial lung disease in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an Italian Delphi consensus

Giacomo Sgalla, Carlo Vancheri, Serena Guiducci, Andreina Manfredi, Stefania Cerri, Elisabetta Zanatta, Marco Sebastiani, Fabrizio Luppi, Elena Bargagli
article en

Abstract

Although guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach for the diagnosis and management of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated interstitial lung disease (SARD-ILD), they lack guidance on MDT composition and function. This Delphi consensus project aimed to define a shared MDT model for managing patients with SARD-ILD. A questionnaire was circulated to an expert panel of 77 Italian pulmonologists, rheumatologists, immunologists, and internal medicine specialists, with statements rated over two voting rounds using a 5-point Likert scale. Response rates were 73% and 95% for the first and second rounds, respectively, after which consensus (≥ 66.6% agreement) was achieved for all the statements. Consensus statements and recommendations address the responsibilities of healthcare professionals involved in an MDT, including organization, referrals, management, and standard outcomes. Although limited to Italy, the current consensus project is the first attempt to define shared rules for MDTs in the context of SARD-ILD, but further work is needed to achieve international consensus on this topic.

Respiratory Research
University of Siena (IT), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT), University of Parma (IT), University of Padua (IT), Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IT), University of Catania (IT), Azienda Unita' Sanitaria Locale Di Modena (IT), Azienda Sanitaria Unità Locale di Reggio Emilia (IT), Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Piacenza (IT), Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerardo (IT), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (IT), Policlinico Universitario di Catania (IT), University of Florence (IT), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 22%
Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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