Rheumatology-associated Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the lung tissues. The lung tissues will undergo varying patterns of inflammation and fibrosis. This leads to breathlessness, cough and in severe cases, requiring long term oxygen use.
The combined Rheumatology and Respiratory-ILD clinic specialises in providing care to patients with rheumatic diseases who have more severe or progressive ILD. Our goals are to provide comprehensive diagnostic workup and seamless co-management of rheumatic disease associated-ILD.
Patients will receive holistic advice on comprehensive diagnostic workup in the combined clinic: blood investigations, pulmonary function tests, 6 minute walk test, high resolution computed tomography scans of the lungs, and bronchoscopic procedures as required. Management of each patient is individualised and may include medications such as immunosuppressive and anti-fibrotic drugs, pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen prescription.
Patients are seen by the Rheumatologist and the Respiratory physician in the clinic, supported by the Rheumatology and Respiratory ILD nurses. Patients may also be potentially recruited into international drug trials.
Rheumatologists
Respiratory Physicians
Other members of the ILD programme include the Rheumatology & Respiratory nurses, Rheumatology pharmacists, and research coordinators who assist in the care of our patients.
Rheumatology-associated ILD vary greatly in symptoms, disease progression and response to treatment. Early diagnosis and early treatment can improve quality of life and symptoms.
Therefore, enrolling patients into research is important to understand how different types of rheumatology-associated ILD behaves and progresses, and what treatment works best for each subtype of ILD. Research helps physicians to understand and discover new progress the treatment in ILD, which then translates to optimal outcome of each patient.
The Rheumatologists and Respiratory physicians collaborate seamlessly to accelerate discovery of ILD treatment through research projects conducted within our institution.
Find out more on our Department’s research here >
