Do all patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis warrant a trial of therapeutic intervention? A pro-con perspective.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an incurable condition that is characterized by progressive pulmonary fibrosis, architectural distortion of the lung and loss of gas exchange units. Until recently, there was no effective treatment for this condition. However, there were two landmark trials published earlier this year, which have changed the management of this condition. Pirfenidone (Assessment of Pirfenidone to Confirm Efficacy and Safety in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis trial) and nintedanib (Efficacy and Safety of Nintedanib in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis-1 and -2 trials) have both demonstrated positive outcomes in patients with IPF. In this perspective, we critically discuss the role of these agents in IPF and in the broader pulmonary fibrosis population.
Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Yuben
Y
Moodley
Tamera
T
Corte
Luca
L
Richeldi
Talmadge E
TE
King
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D011728:Pyridones; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C093844:pirfenidone; C530716:nintedanib
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; nintedanib; pirfenidone; usual interstitial pneumonia