Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF). Methods The interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients diagnosed in our department between January 2010 and August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed to screen out the patients with IPAF.The clinical manifestations, laboratory examination, imaging, pulmonary function and treatment were summarized. Results In 254 ILD patients, 25 patients met the diagnosis criteria of IPAF, and 26 patients were diagnosed with definite connective tissue diseases associated ILD (DCTD-ILD). There were differences in arthralgia, sicca symptoms, mechanic’s hand, positive antinuclear antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies and residual lung volume between the IPAF patients and the DCTD-ILD patients (all P < 0. 05). Five IPAF patients were revealed hug or “pancake” the diaphragm in their chest high resolution CT radiographs. The microscopic performance showed that diffuse thickened with collagen fiber, alveolar wall thickening with marked interstitial lymphocyte inflammatory cells infiltration, and granulation tissue that filled bronchiolar lumina. The patients were pathologically diagnosed with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) overlap organized pneumonia (OP). During following-up, the progression-free survival time of the IPAF patients was significant longer and that of the DCTD-ILD patients [(14.32±5.74)months vs. (10. 31± 3. 70) months, P < 0. 05]. Conclusions If an ILD patient has mechanic’s hand, positive antinuclear antibodies or NISP overlap OP in image, the diagnosis of IPAF should be considered. IPAF have slower disease progression and better prognosis than DCTD-ILD.