Previous studies revealed several predicting factors for mortality in patients with AE-ILD; low baseline forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion of carbon monoxide (DLco) before AE, extensive ground-glass opacity or consolidation on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), impaired oxygenation, high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and low percentages of lymphocytes on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid at the time of hospitalization were associated with poor prognosis of patients with AE-ILD4,8–10. Here, CRP is linked to interstitial lung disease.