Step 1 Q of the Day!

A 64 year old female smoker presents with increasing shortness of breath. A chest x-ray shows diffuse pulmonary infiltrate. At this time you decide to get a lung biopsy. Biopsy reveals alveolar wall fibrosis with sheets desquamated cells. At this point in time what therapy will help her most?

a)steroids
b)theophylline
c)isoniazid
d)treat symptoms only
e)azithromycin


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answer: a)steroids. Dx: desquamative interstitial pneumonitis- a subtype of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.