Consensus document for the diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Publication date: Available online 20 February 2016 Source:Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia (English Edition) Author(s): C. Robalo Cordeiro, P. Campos, L. Carvalho, S. Campainha, S. Clemente, L. Figueiredo, J.M. Jesus, A. Marques, C. Souto-Moura, R. Pinto Basto, A. Ribeiro, M. Serrado, A. Morais Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a rare interstitial lung disease included in the Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias group. Although several potential risk factors have been described, it is a progressive fibrosing disease of unknown cause affecting mainly adults over 50 years and associated with a poor prognosis, reflected in a median survival of 2–3 years after diagnosis. The concept of a multidisciplinary working group for the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is based on the need to have experienced pulmonologists, radiologists and pathologists in the evaluation and correct treatment of the disease, and requires the use of all available data about individual patients, standardized (largely through High Resolution Computed Tomography and pathology when needed) as well as non-standardized data (laboratory, serology and biomarkers). This approach helps to increase diagnostic accuracy and is an internationally accepted recommendation. In regard to therapy, the situation has changed radically since the publication of the ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2011 guidelines on the diagnosis and management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis where it was stressed that ...
Source: Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research