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About the Rush Interstitial Lung Disease Program

The Rush Interstitial Lung Disease Program provides expert care for people living with interstitial lung diseases, or ILDs. We’re here to help determine the right diagnosis and treatments for your lung condition.

ILDs are a family of diseases that cause inflammation or scarring of lung tissue and can affect the ability to breathe. ILDs can have many causes, including occupational exposure, mold exposure, genetics or autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma.

Our top priority is helping you achieve the best quality of life possible. The RUSH  Interstitial Lung Disease Program team will develop a personalized care plan fit for you and your lifestyle.

• Providing an accurate diagnosis: Symptoms of ILD — chronic cough and shortness of breath — often are misdiagnosed as asthma, allergies or pneumonia. At the RUSH Interstitial Lung Disease Program, we offer a comprehensive evaluation — including a review of your health history, a physical exam, blood tests and a high resolution CT scan of the lungs — to give you the right diagnosis and care plan.
• Multidisciplinary approach: Treating ILD takes a collaborative team of experts. Together, our team — including pulmonologists, thoracic radiologists, thoracic surgeons, thoracic pathologists, rheumatologists, pulmonary rehabilitation specialists, respiratory therapists and palliative care specialists — treats a range of ILDs.
• Minimally invasive treatment options: At the RUSH  Interstitial Lung Disease Program, we strive to diagnose and treat your ILD in the least invasive way possible. With the expertise of our pulmonologists and radiologists, we are often able to avoid surgery to determine the correct diagnosis. Whether through antifibrotics, anti-inflammatory medications or other immunosuppressants, we’ll find the option that best helps manage your lung condition. We also offer pulmonary rehabilitation to improve your lung efficiency and physical endurance, as well as access to clinical trials.