Pulmonary Fibrosis – Causes
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Causes of pulmonary fibrosis can be categorised by radiological distribution (upper vs lower lobes).
Upper Lung Fibrosis Causes
‘CHARTS’ is a commonly used mnemonic:
| C | Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis |
| H | Hypersensitivity pneumonitis |
| A | Ankylosing spondylitis |
| R | Radiotherapy |
| T | Tuberculosis |
| S | Sarcoidosis and silicosis |
Lower Lung Fibrosis Causes
The 4 letters ‘A I D C’ can be used to help remember the lower lung fibrosis causes:
| A | Asbestosis |
| I | Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis |
| D | Drugs (key drugs: methotrexate, amiodarone, nitrofurantoin, bleomycin) |
| C | Connective tissue disease (e.g. RA, systemic sclerosis)
*But NOT ankylosing spondylitis (it causes more upper lung fibrosis) |