Clinical aspects of respiratory pathology in scleroderma. Case reports

: Six cases of scleroderma with pulmonary involvement, either isolated or accompanied by other visceral signs, observed between 1985 and 1987 have been examined. Patients were undergoing treatment with cortisone drugs in 4 cases and azathioprine in 2. Chest X-ray documented a picture of nodular opacities in 3 cases, reticular in 2 and miliariform in 1. B.A.L. revealed a picture of prevalently neutrophil alveolitis in all subjects, while transbronchial biopsy showed a finding of macrophagic infiltration in 2 cases, and one of fibroblastic proliferation in 4. The anatomoclinical damage was reflected adequately by spirometric tests and above all by the DLCO, while Gallium 67 scan and measurement of the A.C.E. were not very sensitive.