ILD

Medical abbreviation · Respiratory

ILD
Stands forInterstitial lung disease
CategoriesMedical

ILD stands for Interstitial lung disease, a respiratory abbreviation.

Umbrella term for more than 200 disorders that inflame or scar the lung interstitium, the tissue around the air sacs, causing progressive breathlessness, dry cough and reduced oxygen transfer. Causes include autoimmune diseases, inhaled exposures, drugs, sarcoidosis and idiopathic forms.

Example: Dry crackles and reticulation on HRCT in a patient with scleroderma: CTD-ILD, PFTs show DLCO 48%.

Usage notes

Diagnosis relies on high-resolution CT, lung function testing including DLCO, and multidisciplinary discussion between pulmonologists, radiologists and pathologists. Drug causes include amiodarone, nitrofurantoin, methotrexate and bleomycin. In 2022 international guidelines introduced the term progressive pulmonary fibrosis for non-IPF fibrotic ILD that worsens despite treatment, some of which responds to the antifibrotic nintedanib.

More respiratory abbreviations

  • HCAP – Healthcare-associated pneumonia
  • HFNC – High-flow nasal cannula
  • HP – Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
  • HSAT – Home sleep apnea test
  • HTX – Hemothorax
  • ICS – Inhaled corticosteroid
  • iNO – Inhaled nitric oxide
  • IPF – Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • LABA – Long-acting beta2-agonist
  • LAMA – Long-acting muscarinic antagonist
  • LLL – Left lower lobe
  • LPM – Liters per minute

See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.