Event

This course will provide an introduction and update on the diagnosis and management of the heterogeneous group of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) of unknown etiology as well ILD in the setting of connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, and environmental exposures. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), alveolar proteinosis, and granulomatous ILD (hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis) are among the diseases that will be discussed. Genetic factors, precision medicine for diagnosis and treatment as well as newer concepts in the pathogenesis of IPF and novel treatment strategies to modulate pulmonary fibrosis will be discussed. Attendees will be updated on evolving enhanced knowledge in the clinical management of patients with ILD. The importance of making an accurate diagnosis will be demonstrated by live interactions with a panel of experts from multiple disciplines confronted with 3-4 cases unknown to them. This will illustrate multidisciplinary diagnosis (MDD) in action. Additional talks will focus on the symptom management of patients with IPF and endpoints to assess treatment response beyond conventionally used pulmonary function tests.