Usual interstitial pneumonia
Other names	Usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP)
CT scan of a patient with UIP. There is interstitial thickening, architectural distortion, honeycombing and bronchiectasis.
Specialty	Respirology

Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is a form oflung disease characterized by progressive scarring of bothlungs.^[1] The scarring (pulmonary fibrosis) involves thepulmonary interstitium (the supporting framework of the lung). UIP is thus classified as a form ofinterstitial lung disease.

The term "usual" refers to the fact that UIP is the most common form of interstitial fibrosis. "Pneumonia" indicates "lung abnormality", which includes fibrosis and inflammation. A term previously used for UIP in the British literature is cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA), a term that has fallen out of favor since the basic underlying pathology is now thought to be fibrosis, not inflammation. The termusual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP) has also often been used, but again, the-itis part of that name may overemphasize inflammation.

The typical symptoms of UIP are progressiveshortness of breath and cough for a period of months. In some patients, UIP is diagnosed only when a more acute disease supervenes and brings the patient to medical attention.

The cause of the scarring in UIP may be known (less commonly) or unknown (more commonly). Since the medical term for conditions of unknown cause is "idiopathic", the clinical term for UIP of unknown cause isidiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).^[2] Examples of known causes of UIP includeconnective tissue diseases (primarilyrheumatoid arthritis), drug toxicity, chronichypersensitivity pneumonitis,asbestosis andHermansky–Pudlak syndrome.^[2]

UIP may be diagnosed by a radiologist using computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, or by a pathologist using tissue obtained by a lung biopsy.

Radiologically, the main feature required for a confident diagnosis of UIP is honeycomb change in the periphery and the lower portions (bases) of the lungs.^[3]

Onhigh-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), the following categories, depending on imaging findings, have been recommended by a collaborative effort by theAmerican Thoracic Society,European Respiratory Society,Japanese Respiratory Society, and theLatin American Thoracic Society:^[4]

• UIP pattern:^[4]

• Honeycombing, with or without peripheral tractionbronchiectasis; or bronchiolectasis (dilatation of the terminal bronchioles)^[5]
• Predominantly subpleural and basal
• Often heterogenous distribution, being occasionally diffuse, and may be asymmetrical

There may be superimposed CT features such as mildground-glass opacity, reticular pattern and pulmonary ossification.

• Probable UIP pattern:^[4]

• Predominantly subpleural and basal
• Often heterogenous distribution
• Reticular pattern with peripheral traction bronchiectasis or bronchiolectasis
• There may be mild ground-glass opacity

• Indeterminate for UIP:^[4]

• Predominantly subpleural and basal
• Subtle reticular pattern
• May have mild ground-glass opacity or distortion (“early UIP pattern”)

• Findings suggestive ofanother diagnosis, including:^[4]

• Other predominant distribution:

• Peribronchovascular
• Perilymphatic
• Upper or mid-lung

• Cysts
• Marked mosaic pattern
• Predominant ground-glass opacity
• Profuselung micronodules
• Lung nodules, especially centrilobular
• Consolidation
• Pleural plaques (indicating asbestosis)
• Dilated esophagus (indicatingconnective tissue disease)
• Distal clavicular erosions (indicatingrheumatoid arthritis)
• Extensive lymph node enlargement
• Pleural effusion
• Pleural thickening (indicatingconnective tissue disease/drugs)

The histologic hallmarks of UIP, as seen in lung tissue under a microscope by a pathologist, are interstitial fibrosis in a "patchwork pattern", honeycomb change and fibroblast foci (see images below).^[6][7]

• Pathological findings in usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)
• 
  Appearance of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in a surgical lung biopsy at low magnification. The tissue is stained with hematoxylin (purple dye) and eosin (pink dye) to make it visible. The pink areas in this picture represent lung fibrosis (collagen stains pink). Note the "patchwork" (quilt-like) pattern of the fibrosis.
• 
  Appearance of honeycomb change in a surgical lung biopsy at low magnification. The dilated spaces seen here are filled with mucin. Hematoxylin-eosin stain, low magnification.
• 
  A fibroblast focus in a surgical lung biopsy of UIP. Hematoxylin-eosin stain, high magnification. The white space to the left is an airspace. The pale area to the right is a fibroblast focus. It is an area of active fibroblast proliferation within the interstitium of the lung.

The differential diagnosis includes other types of lung disease that cause similar symptoms and show similar abnormalities on chest radiographs. Some of these diseases cause fibrosis, scarring or honeycomb change. The most common considerations include:

• chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• non-specific interstitial pneumonia
• sarcoidosis
• pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis
• asbestosis^[8]

Oxygen therapy may assist with daily living. In case ofidiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, certain medications likenintedanib andpirfenidone can help slow the progression.^[9] Lastly,lung transplants may help.

Regardless of cause, UIP is relentlessly progressive, usually leading torespiratory failure and death without a lung transplant.^{[citation needed]} Some patients do well for a prolonged period of time, but then deteriorate rapidly because of a superimposed acute illness (so-called "accelerated UIP"). The outlook for long-term survival is poor. In most studies, themedian survival is 3 to 4 years.^{[citation needed]} Patients with UIP in the setting of rheumatoid arthritis have a slightly better prognosis than UIP without a known cause (IPF).

UIP, as a term, first appeared in thepathology literature. It was coined byAverill Abraham Liebow.^[10]

• Pneumoconiosis
• Silicosis
• Asbestosis
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Emphysema

• Pneumonia

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