Interstitial Lung Disease

he Leeds Regional Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Service looks after patients with Interstitial Lung Disease from across the West Yorkshire region. If you have Interstitial Lung Disease or have been referred to our service we hope this website will provide you with some information to help you.

Dr Paul Beirne

Dr Tim Sutherland

Interstitial Lung Disease is a collective term for a group of different lung diseases. These diseases can cause damage to the tissues of the lung (pulmonary fibrosis). Each of the interstitial lung diseases is individually uncommon or rare. Diagnosis and management of Interstitial Lung Disease can be complex and may require specialist input from clinicians who see large numbers of patients with these diseases. The commonest diseases we care for are:

• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
• Sarcoidosis
• Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
• Interstitial Lung Disease related to Connective Tissue Diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, lupus, Sjogren’s Syndrome and others)
• Other less common causes of Interstitial Lung Disease

After you first attend the Leeds ILD Service, your diagnosis and treatment will be discussed at a Multidisciplinary Team Meeting attended by consultants in respiratory medicine, radiology, pathology, thoracic surgery and rheumatology – all of whom have a specialist interest in Interstitial Lung Disease. After this your care will be delivered by the clinical team, which includes 2 consultant respiratory physicians, specialist nurses, a specialist pharmacist, specialist respiratory technicians and research nurses.

Fully constituted ILD MDT

Dedicated ILD nurse specialist

Full lung functon assessment

Bronchoscopy and Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)

Cytology with cell differential counts

Regional immunological laboratory services

Day unit for administering cytotoxic and biological therapies

Immunosuppressant monitoring service

Close links with regional thoracic surgery

Access to pulmonary rehabilitation services

Dedicated ILD pharmacist

Multi-disciplinary service

Close collaboration with regional rheumatology services

Availability of PET scanning, Gallium Scanning and Cardiac MRI

Integrated clinical trials unit offering trial access for patients with IPF and other ILDs