Yale Faculty Contribute to National Interstitial Lung Disease Guideline

Four faculty members from the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) Department of Internal Medicine were involved in developing a national guideline for the screening, monitoring, and treatment of interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatic conditions. Lung disease is a major source of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Danielle Antin-Ozerkis, MD, associate professor of medicine (pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine), Lenore Buckley, MD, MPH, professor of medicine (rheumatology, allergy, and immunology) and of pediatrics, Vaidehi Chowdhary, MBBS, MD, associate professor of medicine (rheumatology, allergy, and immunology), and Monique Hinchcliff, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine (rheumatology, allergy, and immunology), contributed to the creation of the 2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Screening and Monitoring of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Antin-Ozerkis and Chowdhary were part of the literature review team, which rated the certainty of evidence to create an evidence report. Buckley and Hinchliff were members of the voting panel, charged with reviewing the evidence report and voting on guideline recommendations.

Interstitial lung disease refers to a group of more than 200 lung disorders characterized by inflammation and scarring of the lungs and supporting air sacs. It is an important complication of autoimmune disease, according to Antin-Ozerkis.

“Until now, there was no guideline to help us decide when we should be screening for disease, how we should monitor patients who have interstitial lung disease as a result of their autoimmune disease, and how best to treat it,” she said. “This guideline, which was jointly endorsed by both the American College of Rheumatology and American College of Chest Physicians, is exciting because it reflects a multidisciplinary effort to put together the best evidence available into one set of recommendations.”

Currently, these rheumatic disease complications are treated at YSM by a multidisciplinary team of physicians. Chowdhary emphasized the strong, collaborative relationship between the Section of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology and the Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.

“This partnership enables us to provide comprehensive care for patients with autoimmune conditions and interstitial lung disease,” she said. “Our close collaboration has not only advanced research but also led to educational seminars for fellows in both specialties, all while ensuring the highest standard of care for this rare and complex group of conditions.”

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