title: Different therapies and factors influencing response to therapy in idiopathic diffuse fibrosing alveolitis.
abstract: The success of 3 different treatment regimens was compared in 15 patients with diffuse fibrosing alveolitis. Improvement or deterioration of lung function (vital capacity (VC) and PaO2 changes during exercise) were used as a control of therapy. The combination of prednisolone and azathioprine proved to be most effective: in 4 of 6 patients both VC and PaO2 improved. Combinations with D-penicillamine resulted in a high number of unwanted side effects: in 5 of 13 treated patients it had to be withdrawn. 6 patients were treated with prednisolone alone; only 1 of them improved. Patients with a short duration of symptoms prior to therapy and initially mild impairment of lung function showed a higher degree of improvement during therapy. The consequence for the management of lung fibrosis is to establish diagnosis and treatment as early as possible.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone; D010396:Penicillamine; D001379:Azathioprine