Approach to the Evaluation and Management of Interstitial Lung Abnormalities: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Statement

Abstract Background There is growing interest in identifying early stages of interstitial lung disease (ILD) to improve patient outcomes. This document reviews updated evidence on interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs); provides suggestions for screening, evaluation, and management; proposes criteria for distinguishing ILAs from ILD; and identifies research priorities. Methods A committee of clinical and methodology experts met by video conference to define ILAs and ILD by consensus and voted on 11 prespecified questions after reviewing synthesized evidence from a systematic literature search. Agreement of ≥70% was required to approve each suggestion. Results ILA is defined as nondependent bilateral…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense
• UD
  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• AT
  American Thoracic Society
• BS
  Bristol-Myers Squibb
• PF
  Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
• P
  Pfizer
• A
  AstraZeneca
• G
  GlaxoSmithKline
• S
  Sanofi
• GS
  Gilead Sciences
• B
  Biogen
• C
  Celgene
• F
  FibroGen
• FH
  F. Hoffmann-La Roche
• B
  BioClinica
• CB
  CSL Behring
• UH
  UCLA Health System
• ER
  European Respiratory Society
• RP
  Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
• WT
  Wellcome Trust
• MC
  MannKind Corporation
• SP
  Savara Pharmaceuticals
• G
  Galecto
• SP
  Syndax Pharmaceuticals
• V
  Veracyte
• NI
  National Institute for Health and Care Research
• DO
  Department of Health and Social Care
• NR
  National Research Foundation
• NR
  National Research Foundation of Korea
• E
  Eisai
• DP
  Daewoong Pharmaceutical Company
• LF
  Lung Foundation Netherlands
• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• G
  Genentech
• MR
  Medical Research Council
• NH
  National Health and Medical Research Council
• NH
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• DS
  Daiichi Sankyo Europe