Explore Pulmonology & LungInterstitial Lung Disease Sarcoidosis
Expert Care for Rare and Complex Lung Conditions
If you have been diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), pulmonary fibrosis, or sarcoidosis—or are experiencing unexplained shortness of breath or a persistent cough—you deserve expert evaluation and compassionate care.
Our Center for Interstitial Lung Disease & Sarcoidosis brings together specialists with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating these complex conditions. We work closely with you and your referring physicians to develop a personalized treatment plan that improves your health, preserves lung function, and enhances your quality of life.
What is ILD?
ILD refers to a group of more than 200 conditions that cause inflammation and/or scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. As the lungs become scarred, it becomes harder for oxygen to move into the bloodstream, making breathing more difficult.
Common symptoms of ILD include:
- Shortness of breath, especially with activity
- A persistent dry cough
- Fatigue
- Decreased exercise tolerance
- Unexplained weight loss in some patients
Because many ILDs have similar symptoms, an accurate diagnosis often requires specialized testing and expert interpretation.
What Is Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that can affect many parts of the body, most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. It causes clusters of inflammatory cells, called granulomas, to form in the affected organs.
Many people have mild sarcoidosis that improves on its own, while others may require ongoing treatment. Our team has expertise in evaluating and managing both newly diagnosed and longstanding cases of sarcoidosis.
Symptoms of sarcoidosis may include:
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Fatigue
- Skin rashes or eye inflammation
- Joint pain
- Enlarged lymph nodes
Because sarcoidosis can affect multiple organs, we coordinate care with other specialists as needed.
Conditions We Treat
Our specialists evaluate and manage a wide range of lung diseases, including:
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
- Connective tissue disease-associated ILD
- Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Occupational and environmental lung diseases
- Sarcoidosis
- Drug-related lung disease
- Unclassifiable interstitial lung disease
- Other rare forms of pulmonary fibrosis and inflammatory lung disease
Personalized Treatment
Treatment depends on your specific diagnosis and disease stage. Your care plan may include:
- Medications to reduce inflammation or slow lung scarring
- Treatment for sarcoidosis
- Oxygen therapy, when needed
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Vaccination and preventive care
- Smoking cessation support
- Monitoring with regular lung function testing and imaging
- Referral for lung transplantation when appropriate
Our goal is to help you breathe more easily, stay active, and maintain the best possible quality of life.
Our Comprehensive Approach
Every patient is unique. We take the time to understand your symptoms, medical history, imaging studies, and test results to determine the most accurate diagnosis.
Your evaluation may include:
- Detailed medical history and physical examination
- High-resolution CT scan review
- Pulmonary function testing
- Six-minute walk testing
- Laboratory evaluation
- Bronchoscopy or lung biopsy, when appropriate
- Multidisciplinary review by experienced specialists
We work with radiologists, pathologists, rheumatologists, thoracic surgeons, and other experts to ensure every patient receives a thorough evaluation.
When Should You See an ILD Specialist?
You may benefit from an evaluation if you have:
- Unexplained shortness of breath
- A chronic dry cough
- Abnormal chest imaging suggesting lung scarring
- A diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial lung disease
- Sarcoidosis involving the lungs
- An autoimmune disease with possible lung involvement
- A family history of pulmonary fibrosis
Early diagnosis and treatment can make an important difference.
Why Choose Our Center?
Patients choose UConn Health’s Center for Interstitial Lung Disease & Sarcoidosis because we offer:
- Expertise in rare and complex lung diseases
- Comprehensive diagnostic evaluations
- Individualized treatment plans
- A multidisciplinary team approach
- Access to the latest therapies and clinical research opportunities
- Compassionate, patient-centered care
We understand that receiving a diagnosis of ILD or sarcoidosis can be overwhelming. Our team is here to answer your questions, explain your treatment options, and support you every step of the way.
Research Focused
Both the pediatric and adult center sites are engaged in high-level pulmonary research, and all diagnosed patients are enrolled in the U.S. Bronchiectasis Research Registry (BRR) and the national PCD Registry that tracks PCD nationally to advance scientific knowledge and research.