Understand the symptoms, causes and treatment of this severe lung disease, which occurs when the lung tissue becomes dry.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal cicatricial lung disease that occurs in adults of unknown etiology. Some people with IPF have familial diseases dominant characteristics, incomplete penetration.
What is pulmonary fibrosis?
The term "lung" refers to the lungs, and the term "fibrosis" refers to scar tissue, similar to the scars that may be left on the skin due to old injuries or surgery. Therefore, in the simplest sense, pulmonary fibrosis (PF) means scarring of the lungs.
Causes and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis
For doctors, finding the cause of PF can be challenging. Sometimes they can determine one or more causes of your disease and discuss them here. Unexplained PF is called "idiopathic"
There are five main identifiable causes of pulmonary fibrosis: drug-induced, radiation-induced, environmental, autoimmune, and occupational. In the United States, environmental and autoimmune causes seem to be the most common types of PF with known causes.
Medical treatement
Drugs used to treat cancer (chemotherapy), drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (eg amiodarone), drugs used to treat inflammatory diseases (eg methotrexate) and antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections Nitrofurantoin) are some of them. More well-known drugs that may cause lung injury, inflammation and scar formation. In some cases, many other drugs are also considered to cause PF.
Radiation
Radiation to the chest to check for lymphoma; Hodgkin's disease; or breast cancer, lung cancer and other cancers can damage the lungs and cause fibrosis.
The environmental cause of PF is often referred to as hypersensitivity pneumonia (HP) or chronic hypersensitivity pneumonia. HP occurs when the lungs are infected with mold spores, bacteria, animal proteins (especially from indoor or caged poultry), or other known triggers, and inflammation and scar reactions occur in the lungs.
Autoimmune disease
If you have an autoimmune disease that affects the lungs, it means that your body's immune system is invading your lungs. Autoimmune diseases that may cause PF include:
Treatment programs
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation also provides detailed information on the latest treatment options and drug development breakthroughs to help patients live a better life. If you are interested in learning about another form of PF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, please visit our dedicated idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis page. Treatment options are also available.
New diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis
I was just diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. What should I do next?
We recommend that you consider an appointment with an experienced pulmonologist. The knowledgeable team of PF experts will ensure that you get an accurate diagnosis and the latest treatment and management recommendations.
The support group can supplement the care you get from the medical team by providing emotional support and education.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal cicatricial lung disease that occurs in adults of unknown etiology. Some people with IPF have familial diseases dominant characteristics, incomplete penetration.
What is pulmonary fibrosis?
The term "lung" refers to the lungs, and the term "fibrosis" refers to scar tissue, similar to the scars that may be left on the skin due to old injuries or surgery. Therefore, in the simplest sense, pulmonary fibrosis (PF) means scarring of the lungs.
Causes and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis
For doctors, finding the cause of PF can be challenging. Sometimes they can determine one or more causes of your disease and discuss them here. Unexplained PF is called "idiopathic"
There are five main identifiable causes of pulmonary fibrosis: drug-induced, radiation-induced, environmental, autoimmune, and occupational. In the United States, environmental and autoimmune causes seem to be the most common types of PF with known causes.
Medical treatement
Drugs used to treat cancer (chemotherapy), drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (eg amiodarone), drugs used to treat inflammatory diseases (eg methotrexate) and antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections Nitrofurantoin) are some of them. More well-known drugs that may cause lung injury, inflammation and scar formation. In some cases, many other drugs are also considered to cause PF.
Radiation
Radiation to the chest to check for lymphoma; Hodgkin's disease; or breast cancer, lung cancer and other cancers can damage the lungs and cause fibrosis.
The environmental cause of PF is often referred to as hypersensitivity pneumonia (HP) or chronic hypersensitivity pneumonia. HP occurs when the lungs are infected with mold spores, bacteria, animal proteins (especially from indoor or caged poultry), or other known triggers, and inflammation and scar reactions occur in the lungs.
Autoimmune disease
If you have an autoimmune disease that affects the lungs, it means that your body's immune system is invading your lungs. Autoimmune diseases that may cause PF include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis;
- Scleroderma (also called systemic sclerosis);
- Sjogren's syndrome and
- Polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and antisynthetic enzyme syndrome.
Treatment programs
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation also provides detailed information on the latest treatment options and drug development breakthroughs to help patients live a better life. If you are interested in learning about another form of PF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, please visit our dedicated idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis page. Treatment options are also available.
New diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis
I was just diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. What should I do next?
We recommend that you consider an appointment with an experienced pulmonologist. The knowledgeable team of PF experts will ensure that you get an accurate diagnosis and the latest treatment and management recommendations.
The support group can supplement the care you get from the medical team by providing emotional support and education.
- Support group can help patients with pulmonary fibrosis
- Understand their diseases and available treatments;
- Support from others who feel they are experiencing the same thing;
- Learn to control the healthcare system more effectively; and
- Improve coping skills, etc.
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