Restrictive Lung Disease

Restrictive lung disease (RLD) comprises a heterogeneous group of chronic disorders characterized by a decrease in the ability to expand the lungs, as a consequence of either inflammation and/or scarring of the lung parenchyma (diffuse parenchymal disease) [1] or disease of the components of the respiratory pump, such as the pleura, chest wall, and neuromuscular apparatus (extraparenchymal disease) (Fig. 1). There is no unique molecular pathogenetic mechanism in RLD, given the heterogeneity of the disease. Furthermore, the molecular pathophysiology of the different diseases comprised in RLD is not yet well known. This chapter deals with RLD due to diffuse parenchymal diseases.

Restrictive Lung Disease. Figure 1 Diagrammatic