Interstitial Pneumonitis in Association with Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis

The clinical, roentgenologic, physiologic, and pathologic features of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in association with polymyositis and dermatomyositis have been described from a retrospective analysis. Presenting complaints ranged from acute febrile pneumonitis without specific muscular symptoms to muscular symptoms with no clinical respiratory symptoms. All patients had diffuse abnormalities on thoracic roentgenograms. High-dosage corticosteroid therapy in those patients with acute febrile pneumonitis resulted in clinical, roentgenographic, and some physiologic improvement. Pulmonary involvement did not appear to progress in most patients with chronic disease who were receiving longterm corticosteroid therapy.