The Relationship Between Lung Fibrosis and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, interstitial lung disease characterized by progressive scarring of the lungs.

Dr Imre Noth, of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, examines the relationship between lung fibrosis and prognosis in patients with IPF. Because there is no cure for IPF, he underscores that the fundamental goal in treatment is to preserve lung function, slow disease progression, and improve overall health-related quality of life for the patient.

Among available therapies, there are two US Food and Drug Administration–approved antifibrotic medications for IPF, nintedanib and pirfenidone, which have been clinically shown to slow the rate of lung fibrosis and reduce the decline of lung function in patients with IPF.

Dr Noth closes by reporting that emerging therapies may be able to halt progression of this disease as well as permit greater personalization of treatment for patients with IPF.

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Cite this: The Relationship Between Lung Fibrosis and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - Medscape - May 26, 2023.