Our multidisciplinary team brings together specialists from pulmonology, rheumatology, radiology and pathology to optimally care for patients with ILD. Our patients can expect to be guided through the process of meeting specialists with expertise in their specific disorder, with most clinical evaluations and diagnostic testing completed the same day. Our team meets weekly to discuss challenging cases to ensure a consensus approach to diagnosis and management. 

This multi-disciplinary approach was developed at the University of Michigan and has become the standard of care for ILD around the globe. Our unique perspective allows us to continuously refine this approach to optimally diagnose and manage patients with ILD. Members of our program regularly participate in international task forces focused on rewriting guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of specific forms of ILD. 

The University of Michigan ILD program is a founding member of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network. We also participate in a large number of ILD clinical trials, helping to identify new drugs to slow ILD progression and providing expanded access to promising new therapies. Importantly, regular ILD program meetings allow physicians to rapidly incorporate new findings into our care plan. When possible, the program actively coordinates with a patient’s home-based physician to carry out treatment closer to home. 

Conditions currently treated:

• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
• Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis (FPF)
• ILD due to autoimmune disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic sclerosis
  • Myositis / idiopathic inflammatory myopathy
  • Mixed connective tissue disease
  • Sjogren’s disease
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (fHP)
• Non-IPF idiopathic interstitial pneumonia 
  • Idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (INSIP) 
  • Idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia (IBIP) 
  • Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP)
  • Idiopathic lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (ILIP)
  • Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE)
• Occupational ILD
  • Including asbestosis, silicosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis
• Smoking-related ILD
• Unclassifiable ILD
• Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous lung diseases
• Rare lung diseases
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and other cystic lung diseases
  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis
  • Genetic lung disease
  • Drug-induced pneumonitis

We diagnose ILD by taking a thorough medical history, performing a comprehensive physical exam, and reviewing blood studies, pulmonary function testing and chest imaging. In cases where this work-up fails does not produce a clear answer, lung biopsy is sometimes required. 

ILD is treated using a multi-pronged approach that can include medication, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, lung transplant and participation in clinical trials. 

• Anti-fibrotic therapy – these are medications that have been developed to slow pulmonary fibrosis progression (examples include nintedanib, pirfenidone, nerandomilast and treprostinil). 
• Oxygen therapy – ILD can reduce the lung’s ability to efficiently oxygenate the body. Supplemental oxygen can help offset this by providing a more concentrated form of oxygen that is delivered through the nose. 
• Pulmonary rehabilitation – this exercise and education-based program aims to improved conditioning to reduce the physical impact of ILD.  
• Lung transplant –eligible and interested individuals may receive a referral to the University of Michigan lung transplant program to discuss this potential intervention.   
• Clinical trials – these studies provide access to emerging therapies for the treatment of ILD.
• Support group – this brings together patients and their families to create community and raise awareness for ILD. Learn about the Ann Arbor support group. 

Learn more about pulmonary fibrosis research

To make an appointment related to a lung or pulmonary problem, or for an interstitial lung disease referral, call us at 888-287-1084.