Impact of Capillaroscopy in the Investigation of Diffuse Interstitial Pneumonias

Overview

The investigators hypothesize that in patients with a new diagnosis of Pulmonary Interstitial Disease (PID), adding capillaroscopy to standard care increases the proportion of patients receiving a diagnosis of PID-Connective Tissue Disease (PID-CTD) within the first three months of follow-up, thereby reducing the time to diagnosis and facilitating the implementation of appropriate treatment as quickly as possible. Therefore, To confirm this hypothesis, it is necessary to know the characteristics of capillaroscopy in patients with a new diagnosis of PID.

Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILD) are a group of diseases characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the lung tissue, with more than 200 identified causes, approximately 20% of which are related to autoimmune diseases such as connective tissue disorders (e.g., scleroderma, lupus). Pulmonary involvement may precede the diagnosis of connective tissue disease, making diagnosis difficult. Capillaroscopy, a non-invasive and reproducible test, is used to detect microvascular abnormalities, especially in scleroderma spectrum diseases, but its precise role in the evaluation of PID is still poorly defined. Studies show that PIDs associated with autoimmunity are more likely to present with capillaroscopic abnormalities. However, current recommendations on the investigation of PIDs do not clearly specify the use of capillaroscopy, and there are no studies establishing its value in systematic screening of all patients with PID. Thus the investigators aim to describe the characteristics of capillaroscopy in patients with a new diagnosis of PID. The project will be offered to eligible patients for whom a PID has been identified. A review of the medical record information will then be carried out, with additional tests performed as necessary to identify the etiology associated with this IDP. The compilation of information, and especially the performance of additional tests (beyond normal care), is typically completed within three months. In the meantime, and particularly in the first month after signing the consent form, the patient will undergo a capillaroscopy and complete the patient questionnaire. After three months, once all additional tests have been performed and the results compiled, the pulmonologist completes the questionnaire to identify the most likely etiology of the patient's PID. All tests, except for capillaroscopy, are performed as part of routine care.