Increased Reticulation without Honeycombing in HRCT linked to Disease Progression in ILD patients

Higher Reticulation on HRCT is associated with increased risk of disease progression within 24 months in Interstitial Lung Disease patients as per a recent study that was published in the journal, 'BMC Pulmonary Medicine.'

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease and sometimes other types of interstitial lung disease (ILD) may progress similarly to IPF. Researchers conducted a prospective study to evaluate risk factors for disease progression within 24 months in patients with various ILDs. 97 patients with a suspected ILD who underwent a transbronchial lung cryobiopsy participated in the study and the extent of several high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns was assessed. A low extent of honeycombing and definite usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern on HRCT suggesting an early stage of ILD was seen in the study population based on the inclusion criteria. Disease progression was defined based on the following criteria: 

Relative decline of ≥ 10% in forced vital capacity (FVC)

A relative decline in FVC of ≥ 5% 

One of the three criterions like a decline in diffusion capacity to carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≥ 15%, increased fibrosis on HRCT or progressive symptoms

Progressive symptoms and increased fibrosis on HRCT. 

Results:

• Disease progression was revealed in 52% of the patients with ILD, 51% of the patients with IPF, and 53% of the patients with other types of ILD.
• A high extent of reticulation on HRCT and never smoking were associated with disease progression whereas platelet count did not quite reach statistical significance. 

Thus, the researchers concluded from the study that Higher extent of reticulation on HRCT and never smoking appeared to associate with the risk of disease progression within 24 months in ILD patients without honeycombing. They also mentioned that nearly half of the patients with ILD revealed disease progression, and similar proportions were observed in patients with IPF and in other types of ILD. 

For the full article, click here:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-022-02105-9 

Mononen, M., Saari, E., Hasala, H. et al. Reticulation pattern without honeycombing on high-resolution CT is associated with the risk of disease progression in interstitial lung diseases. BMC Pulm Med 22, 313 (2022).