Table 5.

Identification and monitoring of RA-ILD.

	Respiratory signs and symptoms*	Spirometry and DLCO	HRCT
Baseline/diagnosis time	Check	In presence of respiratory signs or symptoms*	In presence of respiratory signs or symptoms*
Follow-up in patients without a known ILD	Check at every examination*	In presence of respiratory signs or symptoms* or when a pulmonary arterial hypertension is suspecteda,b	In presence of respiratory signs or symptoms* and/or in presence of significant deficit of functional tests§
Follow-up in patients with a known ILD	Check at every examination NB: Worsening of symptoms are suggestive of ILD progression or complications°	Every 3–6 months according to clinical status	Every 12 months according to clinical statusc

^aDo not delay spirometry if DLCO is not available in a short time.

^bDiscrepancy between FVC and DLCO deficiency may suggest the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

^cHRCT should be performed (1) in case of a worsening of clinical symptoms or lung function tests or (2) in stable patients to exclude lung cancer and to monitor lung disease.

^*Presence of basal Velcro crackles, dry cough, and exertional dyspnea, not justified by a respiratory infection or cardiological pathology in progress.

^§FVC and/or TLC and/or DLCO deficit ≥20%.

^°Infection, cancer, heart failure, drug toxicity.