Podcast: How To Differentiate ILD Progression vs Treatment Failure

In this episode of the ILD Community Network Podcast, host Amanda Mixon, PA-C, is joined by Jenny Williams, PA-C, for a practical discussion on how clinicians can differentiate interstitial lung disease progression from treatment failure. Together, they explore the clinical, physiologic, and radiographic clues that may signal progressive pulmonary fibrosis, including worsening shortness of breath, cough, declining FVC or DLCO, increased oxygen needs, and high-resolution CT findings such as worsening fibrosis, traction bronchiectasis, honeycombing, and volume loss. This episode also highlights the importance of ruling out other causes of respiratory symptoms, including pulmonary hypertension, cardiac disease, pulmonary embolism, anemia, deconditioning, reflux, aspiration, and infection, before determining whether a patient’s current ILD therapy is no longer working. Listeners will gain practical insights into pulmonary function test monitoring, imaging follow-up, treatment escalation, anti-fibrotic therapy, multidisciplinary collaboration, and referral to ILD specialty centers to help improve long-term outcomes for patients living with interstitial lung disease.