title: [Acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].
abstract: Although generally considered as a slowly evolving disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is also characterized by episods of rapid deterioration with worsening of dyspnea and hypoxemia, and new ground glass opacities at imaging. These events called "acute exacerbations" (AE) are responsible for half of all deaths in IPF. Pathophysiologic mechanisms of AE are poorly understood. The effectiveness of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents appears limited. The mortality of AE is 60-70%. Preventing or controlling AE could improve the overall prognosis of IPF. AE also exist in other interstitial lung diseases.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. romain.lazor@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lazor
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: Laurent P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Nicod
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents