Pulmonary Fibrosis Health Article

Treatment

The treatment of pulmonary fibrosis depends on the underlying cause. Many diseases are treated by suppressing inflammation with corticosteroids. Stronger immune suppressants such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) or azathioprine (Imuran) may also be tried. Some patients need supplemental oxygen. A lung transplant may be an option for incurable diseases. Approximately 60–80% of patients live for at least two years after the transplant.

There is no good treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Only 10–20% of patients with this disease respond to corticosteroids.

Alternative treatment

Anxiety and fear can make breathing difficulties worse. Some patients find that activities such as yoga, prayer or meditation, music therapy, or biofeedback help to relax them.

Prognosis

The prognosis depends on the specific disease. Some cases may stop progressing or improve, particularly if the cause can be identified and treated. Others may develop quickly or slowly into end-stage lung disease. The course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is very difficult to predict; however, average survival is approximately five to seven years.

Prevention

There is no known prevention for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Some ways to prevent other causes of pulmonary fibrosis are:

• avoid exposure to particle dust such as asbestos, coal dust, and silica
• avoid exposure to chemical fumes
• do not smoke

BOOKS

Kobzik, Lester. "Diffuse Interstitial (Infiltrative, Restrictive) Diseases" In Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 6th ed. Ed. Ramzi S. Cotran, Vinay Kumar, and Tucker Collins. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 2000, 727-740.

Toews, Galen B. "Interstitial Lung Disease" In Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 21st ed. Ed. Lee Goldman and J. Claude Bennett. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 2000, pp. 409-419.

PERIODICALS

Mason, Robert J., Marvin I. Schwarz, Gary W. Hunninghake, and Robert A. Musson. "Pharmacologic Therapy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Past, Present, and Future. " American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 160 (1999): 1771-1777.

Michaelson, Jeffrey E., Samuel M. Aguayo, and Jesse Roman. "Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Practical Approach for Diagnosis and Management." Chest 118, no. 3 (September 2000): 788-94.

ORGANIZATIONS

Pulmonary Fibrosis Association. P.O. Box 75004, Seattle, WA 98125-0004. (206) 417-0949. <http://pulmonaryfibrosisassn.com>.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. 1075 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, Colorado 80204. (720) 932-7850. <http://pulmonaryfibrosis.org>.

The American Lung Association. 1740 Broadway, New York. NY 10019. (212) 315-8700. <http://www.lungusa.org>.