The changing treatment landscape in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive and irreversible fibrotic disease of the lung that has greatly frustrated clinicians for a long time. The prognosis of IPF (median survival 2–5 years following diagnosis) is poorer than that of some cancers and for many years no significa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ulrich Costabel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Respiratory Society 2015-03-01
Series:European Respiratory Review
Online Access:http://err.ersjournals.com/content/24/135/65.full.pdf+html
Description
Summary:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive and irreversible fibrotic disease of the lung that has greatly frustrated clinicians for a long time. The prognosis of IPF (median survival 2–5 years following diagnosis) is poorer than that of some cancers and for many years no significant advances were made in its management. However, between 2011 and 2014 a number of pivotal developments were made that have improved the outlook for patients with IPF. Herein, we review this rapidly changing landscape, discussing key events whilst still acknowledging that IPF remains a challenging disease to diagnose and manage.
ISSN:0905-9180
1600-0617