Multikingdom characterization of gut microbiota in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is a serious and common extra-articular disease manifestation. Patients with RA-ILD experience reduced bacterial diversity and gut bacteriome alterations. However, the gut mycobiome and virome in these patients have been largely neglected. In this study, we performed whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing on fecal samples from 30 patients with RA-ILD, and 30 with RA-non-ILD, and 40 matched healthy controls. The gut bacteriome and mycobiome were explored using a reference-based approach, while the gut virome was profiled based on a nonredundant viral operational taxonomic unit (vOTU) catalog. The results revealed significant alterations in the gut microbiomes of both RA-ILD and RA-non-ILD groups compared with healthy controls. These alterations encompassed changes in the relative abundances of 351 bacterial species, 65 fungal species, and 4,367 vOTUs. Bacteria such as Bifidobacterium longum, Dorea formicigenerans, and Collinsella aerofaciens were enriched in both patient groups. Ruminococcus gnavus (RA-ILD), Gemmiger formicilis, and Ruminococcus bromii (RA-non-ILD) were uniquely enriched. Conversely, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bacteroides spp., and Roseburia inulinivorans showed depletion in both patient groups. Mycobiome analysis revealed depletion of certain fungi, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, in patients with RA compared with healthy subjects. Notably, gut virome alterations were characterized by an increase in Siphoviridae and a decrease in Myoviridae, Microviridae, and Autographiviridae in both patient groups. Hence, multikingdom gut microbial signatures showed promise as diagnostic indicators for both RA-ILD and RA-non-ILD. Overall, this study provides comprehensive insights into the fecal virome, bacteriome, and mycobiome landscapes of RA-ILD and RA-non-ILD gut microbiota, thereby offering potential biomarkers for further mechanistic and clinical research.

The Oral-Lung Microbiome Axis in Connective Tissue Disease-Related Interstitial Lung Disease.

Connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a frequent and serious complication of CTD, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, its pathogenesis remains poorly understood; however, one intriguing contributing factor may be the microbiome of the mouth and lungs. The oral microbiome, which is a major source of the lung microbiome through recurrent microaspiration, is altered in ILD patients. Moreover, in recent years, several lines of evidence suggest that changes in the oral and lung microbiota modulate the pulmonary immune response and thus may play a role in the pathogenesis of ILDs, including CTD-ILD. Here, we review the existing data demonstrating oral and lung microbiota dysbiosis and possible contributions to the development of CTD-ILD in rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. We identify several areas of opportunity for future investigations into the role of the oral and lung microbiota in CTD-ILD.

Prevalence and risk factors of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary isolates and infection in interstitial lung disease associated with systemic autoimmune disease.

OBJECTIVES: Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease (NTM-LD) prevalence is increasing worldwide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of NTM pulmonary isolates (NTM-PI) and NTM-LD in patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD) who had a concurrent interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with SAD who had a concurrent ILD diagnosis (SAD-ILD) and from whom clinically indicated sputum specimens were collected for NTM culture between 2003 and 2018 at a tertiary referral hospital. We analysed the prevalence and risk factors of NTM pulmonary isolates (NTM-PI; ≥1 positive culture) and NTM-LD (≥2 positive cultures). RESULTS: This study included 258 patients. Rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome were the most common SADs (32.2% and 26.7%, respectively). The NTM-negative subgroup had 204 patients (79.1%) and the NTM-PI subgroup had 54 patients (20.9%). In the NTM-PI subgroup, 33 patients had one NTM positive set of specimens (NTM 1+, 12.8% of the entire sample) and 21 had NTM-LD (8.1% of the entire sample). In a multivariable analysis, chronic kidney disease (CKD; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.10 [1.53, 6.29]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; aOR: 2.59 [1.16, 5.78]) were significantly associated with NTM-PI. For NTM-LD, CKD (aOR: 2.79 [1.00, 7.76]) and COPD (aOR: 3.70 [1.23, 10.72]) remained significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SAD-ILD, the NTM-PI and NTM-LD prevalence rates were 20.9% and 8.1%, respectively. COPD and CKD were independent risk factors of both NTM-PI and NTM-LD. Previous use of biological agents was associated with NTM-PI.

Lung Microbiome in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Other Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Interstitial lung diseases represent a heterogeneous and wide group of diseases in which factors leading to disease initiation and progression are not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the lung microbiome might influence the pathogenesis and progression of interstitial lung diseases. In recent years, the utilization of culture-independent methodologies has allowed the identification of complex and dynamic communities of microbes, in patients with interstitial lung diseases. However, the potential mechanisms by which these changes may drive disease pathogenesis and progression are largely unknown. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of the altered lung microbiome in several interstitial lung diseases. Untangling the host-microbiome interaction in the lung and airway of interstitial lung disease patients is a research priority. Thus, lung dysbiosis is a potentially treatable trait across several interstitial lung diseases, and its proper characterization and treatment might be crucial to change the natural history of these diseases and improve outcomes.

Clinical role of bronchoalveolar lavage in dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in DM-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with DM-ILD who underwent bronchoscopy between October 2015 and September 2019. We then collated clinical features, laboratory data and bronchoscopy findings. The follow-up study was terminated on the 1 May 2020. RESULTS: A total of 113 DM-ILD patients were included in this study, including 27 patients with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP) and 86 patients with chronic interstitial pneumonia (CIP). The A/SIP group had significantly lower proportions of lymphocytes and eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) than the CIP group, but had a significantly higher proportion of neutrophils. Pathogens were discovered in BALF from 28 (24.8%) patients. Twenty-five (22.1%) patients commenced or changed antibiotic therapy on the basis of their bronchoscopy results. Lymphopenia and intensive care unit care were significantly associated with pathogen-positive BALF findings. Complications of bronchoscopy occurred in nine (8.0%) patients; fever (5.3%) was the most common complication. Twenty-five deaths (25/106, 23.6%) were observed during a mean follow-up of 22 months. Age, A/SIP and anti-MDA5 antibody were identified as independent predictors of a poor outcome, while mechanic's hands was an independent protective factor. However, cellular and pathogen findings in BALF had no significant influence on 30-day or overall mortality. CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopy is a relatively useful instrument to evaluate ILD in patients with DM, and BAL can improve the diagnosis of infection. However, cellular and pathogen findings from BALF had no significant influence on prognosis.

Clinical profile and predictors of severity in paediatric scrub typhus with pulmonary involvement.

Pulmonary involvement is common in children with scrub typhus. Our paper outlines the clinical characteristics of pulmonary involvement and analyses the predictors of its severity. All scrub typhus serology-positive (optical density >0.5) children with pulmonary symptoms were included. Of 506 serology-positive scrub typhus cases, 256 (50.5%) had pulmonary symptoms, of whom 50 (9.8%) were severe. These severe cases were compared with non-severe cases. Interstitial pneumonitis was the commonest chest radiographic finding. Logistic regression analysis identified 'fever clearance time' >48 h, facial puffiness, maculopapular rash and anaemia to be significantly associated with severe pulmonary involvement.

Corticosteroid responsiveness in patients with acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease admitted to the emergency department.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD), particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has a poor prognosis. Corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of acute exacerbation of ILD (AE-ILD). This study aimed to clarify the causes of AE-ILD, determine the efficacy of corticosteroids for treating AE-ILD, and detect differences in the mortality rate among subgroups of ILD. This was an observational retrospective single-center study. Patients with ILD who presented to the emergency department with acute respiratory symptoms from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018, were included. Patients with AE-ILD were classified into two groups depending on the prednisolone dose: low dose (0 to 1.0 mg/kg) or high dose (> 1.0 mg/kg). Mortality rates between patients with and without IPF were compared. This study included 182 patients with AE-ILD, including IPF (n = 117) and non-IPF (n = 65). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that corticosteroid dose (HR: 0.221, CI: 0.102-0.408, P < 0.001), initial P/F ratio (HR:0.995, CI:0.992-0.999, P = 0.006), and mechanical ventilation within 3 days of hospitalization (HR:4.205, CI:2.059-8.589, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for mortality in patients with AE-ILD. This study showed that outcomes improve with higher doses of corticosteroids (> 1 mg/kg prednisolone) in patients with AE-non-IPF-ILD. However, this was not the case in patients with AE-IPF.

Comparative analysis of the alveolar microbiome in COPD, ECOPD, Sarcoidosis, and ILD patients to identify respiratory illnesses specific microbial signatures.

Studying respiratory illness-specific microbial signatures and their interaction with other micro-residents could provide a better understanding of lung microbial ecology. Each respiratory illness has a specific disease etiology, however, so far no study has revealed disease-specific microbial markers. The present study was designed to determine disease-specific microbial features and their interactions with other residents in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (stable and exacerbated), sarcoidosis, and interstitial lung diseases. Broncho-alveolar lavage samples (n = 43) were analyzed by SSU rRNA gene sequencing to study the alveolar microbiome in these diseases. A predominance of Proteobacteria followed by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria was observed in all the disease subsets. Shannon diversity was significantly higher in stable COPD when compared to exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD) (p = 0.0061), and ILD patient samples (p = 0.037). The lung microbiome of the patients with stable COPD was more diverse in comparison to ECOPD and ILD patients (p < 0.001). Lefse analysis identified 40 disease-differentiating microbial features (LDA score (log10) > 4). Species network analysis indicated a significant correlation (p < 0.05) of diseases specific microbial signature with other lung microbiome members. The current study strengthens the proposed hypothesis that each respiratory illness has unique microbial signatures. These microbial signatures could be used as diagnostic markers to differentiate among various respiratory illnesses.

Disseminated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection and acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonitis: an autopsy case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has proven useful for treatment and prevention of recurrence of superficial bladder cancer and in situ carcinoma. However, fatal side effects such as disseminated infections may occur. Early diagnosis and accurate therapy for interstitial pneumonitis (IP) are important because exacerbation of IP triggered by infections is the major cause of death. Although some fatality reports have suggested newly appeared IP after intravesical BCG treatment, to our knowledge, there are no reports which have demonstrated acute exacerbation of existing IP. Moreover, autopsy is lacking in previous reports. We report the case of a patient with fatal IP exacerbation after BCG instillation and the pathological findings of the autopsy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old man with a medical history of IP was referred to our hospital because of fever and malaise. He had received an intravesical injection of BCG 1 day before the admission. His fever reduced after the use of antituberculosis drugs, so he was discharged home. He was referred to our hospital again because of a high fever 7 days after discharge. On hospitalisation, he showed high fever and systemic exanthema. Hepatosplenomegaly and myelosuppression were also observed. Biopsies revealed multiple epithelioid cell granulomas with Langhans giant cells of the liver and bone marrow. Biopsy DNA analyses of Mycobacterium bovis in the bone marrow, sputum, and blood were negative. His oxygen demand worsened drastically, and the ground-glass shadow expanded on the computed tomography scan. He was diagnosed with acute exacerbation of existing IP. We recommenced the antituberculosis drugs with steroid pulse therapy, but he died on day 35 because of respiratory failure. The autopsy revealed a diffuse appearance of multiple epithelioid cell granulomas with Langhans giant cells in multiple organs, although BCG was not evident. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of acute exacerbation of chronic IP by BCG infection. This is also the first case of autopsy of a patient with acute exacerbation of existing IP induced by intravesical BCG treatment. Whether the trigger of acute IP exacerbation is infection or hypersensitivity to BCG is still controversial, because pathological evidence confirming BCG infection is lacking. Physicians who administer BCG against bladder cancer should be vigilant for acute exacerbation of IP.

Alveolar microbiota profile in patients with human pulmonary tuberculosis and interstitial pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: The presence of the human lung microbiota has been demonstrated in patients with different lung diseases, mainly in sputum samples. However, for study of the alveolar microbiota, a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) sample represents the lower respiratory tract (LRT) environment. It is currently unknown whether there is a specific alveolar microbiota profile in human lung diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and interstitial pneumonia (IP). METHODS: BAL samples from six active TB patients, six IP patients and ten healthy volunteers were used for DNA extraction followed by amplification of the complete bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA). The 16S rDNA was sequenced with a MiSeq Desktop Sequencer, and the data were analysed by QIIME software for taxonomic assignment. RESULTS: The alveolar microbiota in TB and IP patients and healthy volunteers was characterized by six dominant phyla, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria and Cyanobacteria. A significant reduction in the abundance of Firmicutes was observed in IP patients. In TB and IP patients, the diversity of the alveolar microbiota was diminished, characterized by a significant reduction in the abundance of the Streptococcus genus and associated with increased Mycobacterium abundance in TB patients and diminished Acinetobacter abundance in IP patients with respect to their abundances in healthy volunteers. However, an important difference was observed between TB and IP patients: the Fusobacterium abundance was significantly reduced in TB patients. Exclusive genera that were less abundant in patients than in healthy volunteers were characterized for each study group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the alveolar microbiota profile in BAL samples from TB and IP patients, representing infectious and non-infectious lung diseases, respectively, is characterized by decreased diversity.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis complicating interstitial lung disease in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a case of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis in a 59-year-old female patient with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus, interstitial lung disease and glaucoma. She presented with a cough, severe fatigue, unintentional weight loss, shortness of breath (increase in home oxygen use from baseline) and pleuritic chest pain of 2 months duration. During these 2 months, her symptoms had worsened despite multiple hospital visits, empirical antibiotics and empirical increase of her steroid dosage. Cytopathology of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed yeast cells with narrow-based budding and grew Cryptococcus neoformans on fungal culture. She was treated with oral fluconazole 400 mg/day for 6 months with an improvement in cough, decrease in shortness of breath (return to baseline oxygen use) and resolution of pleuritic chest pain.

Synthesis and investigations of ciprofloxacin loaded engineered selenium lipid nanocarriers for effective drug delivery system for preventing lung infections of interstitial lung disease.

Treatment of chronic lung infection becomes a great challenge due to the drug resistant bacteria. In this scenario, evolving a new drug based on lipid metal conjugation loaded with potential antibiotic provides better drug delivery. In this study, ciprofloxacin loaded selenium-lipid nanoparticle (CxLSENPs) is produced in a novel route and its antimicrobial properties were tested against clinically important Gram-negative P. aeruginosa. The synthesized CxLSENPs was characterized by biophysical techniques (UV, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, FESEM, HRTEM and Zeta potential). Raman spectra coupled with FTIR spectra confirmed the possible interaction of lipid components in the NPs. HRTEM analysis confirmed the spherical shape of NPs. CxLSENPs recorded greater antibacterial effects on P. aeruginosa. A drastic reduction in the count of P. aeruginosa was observed after treatment with CxLSENPs. In order to further confirm the antibacterial efficiency, the live/dead cell assay was carried out. Live/dead analysis helps us to investigate the viability of bacterial cells. The number of dead bacterial cells was significantly higher in CxLSENPs treated groups when compare to the control. Furthermore, CxLSENPs increased the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPx, CAT and LPO) in mouse and protected the liver damage from bacterial infection. This study concludes that the developed CxLSENPs might be employed as strong antimicrobial and antioxidant agents for treating lung infection or interstitial lung diseases.

The composition of the pulmonary microbiota in sarcoidosis - an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology. The disease mechanisms are largely speculative and may include the role microbial patterns that initiate and drive an underlying immune process. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbiota of the lung of patients with sarcoidosis and compare its composition and diversity with the results from patients with other interstitial lung disease (ILD) and historic healthy controls. METHODS: Patients (sarcoidosis, n = 31; interstitial lung disease, n = 19) were recruited within the PULMOHOM study, a prospective cohort study to characterize inflammatory processes in pulmonary diseases. Bronchoscopy of the middle lobe or the lingula was performed and the recovered fluid was immediately sent for analysis of the pulmonary microbiota by 16sRNA gene sequencing. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis was performed to compare the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between patients with sarcoidosis or other ILDs with regard to microbiome composition and diversity. In addition, the abundance of the genera Atopobium, Fusobacterium, Mycobacterium or Propionibacterium were not different between the two groups. There were no gross differences to historical healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the pulmonary microbiota based on 16sRNA gene sequencing did not show a significant dysbiosis in patients with sarcoidosis as compared to other ILD patients. These data do not exclude a microbiological component in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

An evaluation of methods for the isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria from patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and patients assessed for lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: RGM medium is an agar-based, selective culture medium designed for the isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We evaluated RGM medium for the detection of NTM in patients with CF (405 samples), bronchiectasis (323 samples) and other lung diseases necessitating lung transplantation (274 samples). METHODS: In total, 1002 respiratory samples from 676 patients were included in the study. Direct culture on RGM medium, with incubation at two temperatures (30 °C and 37 °C), was compared with conventional culture of decontaminated samples for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) using both a solid medium (Löwenstein-Jensen medium) and a liquid medium (the Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube; MGIT). RESULTS: For all three patient groups, significantly more isolates of NTM were recovered using RGM medium incubated at 30 °C than by any other method (sensitivity: 94.6% vs. 22.4% for conventional AFB culture; P < 0.0001). Significantly more isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus complex were isolated on RGM at 30 °C than by AFB culture (sensitivity: 96.1% vs. 58.8%; P < 0.0001). The recovery of Mycobacterium avium complex was also greater using RGM medium at 30 °C compared to AFB culture (sensitivity: 83% vs. 70.2%), although this difference was not statistically significant and a combination of methods was necessary for optimal recovery (P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: In the largest study of RGM medium to date, we reaffirm its utility for isolation of NTM from patients with CF. Furthermore; we show that it also provides an effective tool for culture of respiratory samples from patients with bronchiectasis and other lung diseases.

Necrotizing interstitial pneumonia and suppurative myocarditis associated with Bartonella henselae infection in three Florida pumas.

Three Florida pumas ( Puma concolor coryi) that had spent time in captivity prior to being released in the wild were found exhibiting respiratory signs and reluctance to move. All 3 pumas died shortly after immobilization, despite supportive veterinary care. Significant autopsy findings included necrotizing interstitial pneumonia, with pulmonary edema and hyaline membranes, and suppurative myocarditis. Organisms morphologically consistent with Bartonella henselae were identified in intravascular histiocytes in the lung of one of the pumas on histopathology and confirmed via transmission electron microscopy. B. henselae was detected in fresh lung tissue and confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis (16S-23S spacer region, pap31, and rpoB genes) from one of the affected pumas. In all affected pumas, B. henselae was detected by PCR in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissue, and positively staining organisms were identified in sections of lung by immunohistochemistry for B. henselae. In situ hybridization detected B. henselae DNA in lung tissue from 2 of 3 affected pumas. Our case series suggests that B. henselae can be associated with a fatal disease syndrome in Florida pumas. The cause of susceptibility to fatal disease associated with B. henselae infection in these pumas remains unknown.

Coxiella burnetii: A Hidden Pathogen in Interstitial Lung Disease?

We report 7 patients with interstitial lung disease seen at computed tomographic scan review. Coxiella burnetii infection was diagnosed in situ in 1 lung biopsy specimen. Q fever may be a cofactor of interstitial lung disease, especially in endemic areas.

Secondary pulmonary syphilis: Case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect numerous organs in its secondary or tertiary stages. We describe a case of secondary syphilis with pulmonary involvement and we present a literature review. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 69-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital for dyspnoea and extended papular exanthema with palmoplantar involvement. The serological test for syphilis was positive. Ocular examination showed bilateral papillitis and retinal haemorrhage. Chest radiography revealed an interstitial alveolar infiltrate predominantly in the upper lobes, mild pleural effusion and hilar adenopathy. These infiltrates were slightly hypermetabolic on PET scan suggesting inflammatory or infectious origin. Treatment with intravenous penicillin G was effective on cutaneous, ocular and pulmonary manifestations. DISCUSSION: Lung involvement in secondary syphilis is poorly known and rarely described. We found 27 cases of pulmonary syphilis reported in English and the main European languages since 1967. Mean age at diagnosis was 46 years with clear male predominance (89%). HIV co-infection was declared in 5 cases. Treponema pallidum was found in 6 patients using PCR on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) (3 patients) or on a lung biopsy (1 patient), immunohistochemistry (IHC) on BAL (1 patient) and Giemsa staining on a pleural fluid sample (1 patient). Chest X-rays may show unilateral or bilateral infiltrates or nodules with or without pleural effusion or hilar adenopathy. Sub-pleural involvement is frequent and penicillin is the treatment of choice. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary syphilitic involvement should be suspected where pulmonary symptoms or radiological changes occur in secondary syphilis. IHC, special staining or PCR on BAL, pleural fluid or lung tissue are useful for the identification of spirochetes.

Interstitial lung disease in South Africans with systemic sclerosis.

To investigate the frequency, severity and predictors of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in a cohort of South Africans with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Retrospective record review of SSc patients attending a tertiary Connective Tissue Diseases Clinic. Patients with ILD, defined by a combination of clinical findings, imaging, and lung function tests were compared to patients without ILD in terms of demographics, clinical features and autoantibodies. The majority (86.8%) of the 151 patients included were of Black ethnicity, 40% had ILD, of whom 39% had moderate-severe lung disease. Univariate predictors of ILD included: disease duration (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.15); cough (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.37-6.29); dyspnoea (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.23-4.87); bibasal crackles (OR 7.58, 95% CI 3.31-17.37); diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) (OR 4.55, 95% CI 2.10-9.86) and a speckled anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) pattern (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.25-4.90). Conversely, limited cutaneous disease (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.09-0.50) and anti-centromere antibody (ACA) (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.97) were protective. Independent predictors of ILD on multivariate analysis were bibasal crackles (OR 9.43, 95% CI 3.25-27.39), disease duration (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.30) and speckled ANA (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.22-7.15). Almost all (86.4%) patients received immunosuppressive treatment and the leading cause of death was related to ILD itself (44.4%). In this cohort of predominantly Black South Africans, SSc ILD was common and carried a poor prognosis. ILD occurred mainly, but not exclusively, in patients with dcSSc, especially those with a speckled ANA pattern. Conversely, the presence of ACA was protective against ILD.