Interstitial Lung Diseases

Causes

Known causes of interstitial lung diseases include:

• Occupational and environmental exposures
• Cigarette smoking
• Drugs
• Radiation
• Connective tissue or collagen diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis
• Genetic/familial conditions

The cause of many interstitial lung diseases is not known, hence they are referred to as "idiopathic" (of unknown origin).