What Causes Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Doctors don't know what causes idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis (IPF). They think that something inside or outside of the lungs
attacks the lungs again and again over time. These attacks injure the lungs and
cause scarring in the tissue inside and between the air sacs. This makes it
harder for oxygen to pass through the air sac walls into the bloodstream.
Doctors think the following things may increase your
chances of developing IPF:
- Cigarette smoking
- Viral infections, including Epstein Barr virus
(which causes mononucleosis), influenza A virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV-a
virus, and herpes virus 6
- Exposure to environmental pollutants, including
inorganic dust (silica and hard metal dusts), organic dust (bacteria and animal
proteins), and gases and fumes
- Use of certain medicines, including:
- Nitrofurantoin and sulfasalazine, which are
antibiotics used mostly to treat urinary tract infections, ulcerative colitis,
and rheumatoid arthritis
- Medicines to keep your heartbeat regular (for
example, amiodarone or propranolol)
- Chemotherapy or cancer medicines, such as
methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and bleomycin
Your genes may also play a role in the development
of IPF. Some families have at least two members with IPF.
Scientists have found that 9 out of 10 people with
IPF also have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As a result, some
scientists think that some people who have GERD may breathe in tiny drops of
acid from their stomachs on a regular basis. The acid may then injure the lungs
and lead to IPF. More research must be done to confirm this. |