Aetiology
It should be noted that the more common causes (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, drugs) tend to affect the lower zones
Fibrosis predominately affecting the lower zones
Fibrosis predominately affecting the upper zones
Fibrosis predominately affecting the lower zones
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- most connective tissue disorders (except ankylosing spondylitis) e.g. SLE
- drug-induced: amiodarone, bleomycin, methotrexate, nitrofurantoin
- asbestosis
Fibrosis predominately affecting the upper zones
- hypersensitivity pneumonitis (also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis)
- coal worker's pneumoconiosis/progressive massive fibrosis
- silicosis
- sarcoidosis
- ankylosing spondylitis (rare)
- histiocytosis
- tuberculosis