Giuseppe Fabio Parisi, Maria Papale, Giulia Pecora, Santiago Presti, Monica Tosto, Salvatore Leonardi
San Marco Hospital and University of Catania.
Italy
Journal of Clinical Medicine
J Clin Med 2025; 14:
DOI: 10.3390/jcm14228190
Abstract
Pediatric interstitial lung diseases (chILD) are a diverse and complex group of rare but impactful disorders characterized by heterogeneous etiologies and variable clinical courses. Traditional diagnosis-based management often delays targeted treatment, underscoring the need for a more precise therapeutic approach. The “treatable traits” framework, originally developed in adult respiratory medicine, offers a novel paradigm for personalized care by focusing on identifying and modifying discrete, clinically relevant features in each child. This narrative review synthesizes existing evidence and expert consensus to define key treatable traits in pediatric ILD, encompassing genetic and surfactant dysfunction, immune dysregulation, pulmonary hypertension, hypoxemia, aspiration, growth deficits, and environmental exposures. For each trait, we describe diagnostic pathways-including genetic testing, bronchoalveolar lavage, imaging, and functional assessments-and outline targeted management strategies. The implementation of a trait-based approach necessitates multidisciplinary collaboration, standardized protocols, and ongoing research to validate biomarkers and optimize therapies. By adopting this personalized strategy, clinicians can improve early diagnosis, tailor interventions, and potentially alter disease trajectories. Our discussion highlights the current limitations and future priorities, emphasizing the importance of pediatric-specific studies and international networks to fully realize the promise of precision medicine in pediatric ILD.
Category
Class III. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Lung Disease
Medical Therapy. Efficacy or Lack of Efficacy
Review Articles Concerning Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication
Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes