[Pulmonary lesions in systemic connective tissue diseases with immune disorders (collagen diseases)]

Abstract

The data from the literature and the authors' own studies on changes in the lungs in systemic diseases of the connective tissue with immune disorders: systemic lupus erythematosus, progressive systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periarteriitis nodosum are presented. Changes in the lungs in the above diseases have some common features: damage of the microcirculatory bed, increased vascular permeability, impregnation with plasma of alveolar septae and vessel walls, cellular reactions, and septo-alveolar sclerosis. Specific features of each of the diseases under study were demonstrated. The time course of morphological changes in the lungs was followed in relation to the severity, duration, and form of the disease.