Meet to Treat: The Value of Multidisciplinary Discussion in ILD

Rome welcomes me once again, this time for an event that I consider fundamental for the future of our specialisation: the ‘ILD meet the expert’ course at The Hive Hotel. As a doctor and lecturer, participating in events of this kind is not only a professional commitment, but a necessity in order to advance the treatment of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD).

The Evolution of Therapy: From IPF to PPF

My contribution to the proceedings will begin on 19 March with a Keynote Lecture focused on therapeutic evolution. We will review the path that has led us from the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to the understanding of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). This is a crucial step: several diseases have a progressive fibrosing course similar to IPF, which unfortunately has an average survival rate of only 5 years if left untreated. Sharing this knowledge is the first step towards improving these prospects.

The Heart of the Event: The Multidisciplinary Team

What makes this course truly valuable, in addition to the theoretical sessions, is its emphasis on multidisciplinary discussion. During the workshops dedicated to clinical cases, I will have the pleasure of interacting with distinguished colleagues such as Professors Spagnolo, Sverzellati, Trisolini, Bosello, Cavazza, and Manfredi.

The objective is clear: to show the new generation of specialists (pulmonologists, radiologists, rheumatologists and anatomopathologists) that the diagnosis and correct management of these heterogeneous diseases cannot be separated from the interaction between different professionals.

Looking to the Future

The two-day programme is packed: from differential diagnosis to therapies for rheumatic diseases, to the discussion of complex clinical cases brought directly by the learners.

Participating in this event in Rome is not only a way to update skills, but also an opportunity to strengthen the network of experts needed to recognise and treat ILD early. Only through this constant dialogue can we hope to offer our patients a better quality of life and increasingly effective treatment options.

Prof. Luca Richeldi