Acute interstitial pneumonia

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 2 May 2023

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP), also known as Hamman-Rich syndrome, is a rapidly progressive non-infectious interstitial lung disease of unknown aetiology. It is considered the only acute process among the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

Acute interstitial pneumonia has a similar clinical presentation and histological features to those seen in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), showing extensive diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Both conditions likely represent the same pathology, with acute interstitial pneumonia probably accounting for some of the idiopathic cases of ARDS. 

Truly idiopathic acute interstitial pneumonia tends to occur in those without pre-existing lung disease and typically affects middle-aged adults (mean ~50 years 5). However, in certain conditions such as leflunomide-induced acute interstitial pneumonia, patients have pre-existing lung disease.

Clinical features are varied. Patients often have a history of an antecedent illness such as a viral upper respiratory infection. Common initial symptoms include myalgia, arthralgia, pyrexia, chills, and malaise. Severe exertional dyspnoea develops over a matter of days to weeks 13.

Acute interstitial pneumonia is characterised histologically by diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) 2 and is indistinguishable from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The alveolar damage comprises three phases:

  • an acute exudative phase

  • a subsequent organising phase

  • a final fibrotic phase

The clinical context is vital for correct image interpretation.

Non-specific and often shows bilateral patchy airspace opacification.

During the initial stages, acute interstitial pneumonia can have features similar to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which include:

The condition usually progresses to respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and corticosteroid therapy. Even despite mechanical ventilation, it often carries a grave prognosis with >70% mortality at ~3 months 1.

The clinical features of acute interstitial pneumonia were first described by L Hamman and A Rich in 1935 8, and the pathological processes were first described by A L Katzenstein et al. in 1986 3.

Considerations in the early stages include:

Other considerations include:

For a more general differential, consider:

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