Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases

This book discusses basic and clinical aspects of selected topics in interstitial lung disease and the pathogenic mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis. Topics include the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis from the initial injury to the excessive accumulation of collagens in lung parenchyma; detailed analysis of the role of fibroblasts, mast cells and growth factors in the induction of fibrogenesis; collagens, collagenases, and proteoglycans; and hypersensitivity, pneumonitis and asbestosis. Other topics include morphological aspects, including molecular biology techniques, imaging methods, functional respiratory tests, and pulmonary arterial hypertension; and sleep disorders in patients with ILD. This book provides important information for physicians, surgeons, pulmonary researchers, molecular pathologists, biomedical researchers and students, and others interested in interstitial lung disease.