title: Lung transplant in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the present status of lung transplant (LTx) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Current English-language literature review using MEDLINE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective and retrospective trials, series, reviews, databases, and editorials regarding the clinical and basic science aspects of LTx in patients with IPF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed results from trials and series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable disease with a dismal prognosis. The only treatment of proven benefit is LTx. Since the introduction of the Lung Allocation Score, IPF has become the most common indication for LTx in the United States. These patients have a limited life expectancy and benefit from early referral for transplant. Although controversial, the most recent data suggest that bilateral LTx is superior to single LTx in the population of patients with IPF. For this population, LTx increases the length and quality of their lives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although patients with IPF have a dismal prognosis, LTx is a safe and effective treatment to improve their survival and functional status.
authors: Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors: Timothy J
authors: TJ
authors: George
authors: George J
authors: GJ
authors: Arnaoutakis
authors: Ashish S
authors: AS
authors: Shah
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome