title: [Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)].
abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal disease that prognosis (INF) has not improved by available therapy. Recently, much attention has focused on the utility of the T-helper type 1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma as a treatment for IPF. The rationale for its use has been based on observations of its properties as an inhibitor of fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis and deposition, and expression of profibrotic cytokines. The clinical trial is advanced aiming at the prognosis improvement of IPF patients. Small-scale controlled clinical study in 1999, IFN-gamma has improved the respiratory functions of IPF, which was resistant to steroid therapy. Be based on these results, phase III large-scale study mainly in North America, the lagged effect of respiratory function aggravation was expected in IPF, in which pulmonary functions are mildly or moderately deteriolated. But in progressive cases, interferon gamma-1b did not affect progression-free survival, pulmonary function, or the quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School.
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Arata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azuma
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma