CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IDIOPATHIC INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA (IIP) WITH BULLAE

Multiple bullae have often been observed in the lungs of patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). The etiology of bullae has b een considered to be distinct from that of interstitial pneumonia and honeycomb lesions seen in IIP. The incidence of bullae was evaluated i n 27 IIP patients (male; 23 cases, female; 4 cases) and clinical facto rs which are related to the development of bulla were analyzed. Of the 27 patients, 16 (59%) had bullae. All 16 were male smokers, and had h igher smoking indices (p<0.01) than patients without bullae. Eleven of the 16 IIP patients with bullae had clubbed fingers (69%, p<0.05). Ro entgenologically, cysts (75%, p<0.05), low attenuation area (56%, p=0. 06), and honeycomb appearance (94%, p=0.07) were observed more often i n IIP patients with bullae. These results suggest that smoking habits may have a close relationship to the development of bullae seen in pat ients with IIP.