Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis-a review of current and novel pharmacotherapies.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive form of lung disease of unknown etiology for which a paucity of therapies suggest benefit, and for which none have demonstrated improved survival. Acute exacerbation of IPF (AE-IPF) is defined as a sudden acceleration of the disease or an idiopathic acute injury superimposed on diseased lung that leads to a significant decline in lung function. An AE-IPF is associated with a mortality rate as high as 85% with mean survival periods of between 3 to 13 days. Under these circumstances, mechanical ventilation (MV) is controversial, unless used a as a bridge to lung transplantation. Judicious fluid management may be helpful. Pharmaceutical treatment regimens for AE-IPF include the use of high dose corticosteroids with or without immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine A (CsA), and broad spectrum antibiotics, despite the lack of convincing evidence demonstrating benefit. Newer research focuses on abnormal wound healing as a cause of fibrosis and preventing fibrosis itself through blocking growth factors and their downstream intra-cellular signaling pathways. Several novel pharmaceutical approaches are discussed.
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and VA Northern California Health Care System, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Maya M
MM
Juarez
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and VA Northern California Health Care System, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Andrew L
AL
Chan
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and VA Northern California Health Care System, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Andrew G
AG
Norris
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and VA Northern California Health Care System, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Brian M
BM
Morrissey
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and VA Northern California Health Care System, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Timothy E
TE
Albertson
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); acute exacerbation (AE); clinical trials; drug therapy; treatment