What Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) fibrosis is a condition in
which tissue deep in your lungs becomes thick and stiff, or scarred, over time.
The development of the scarred tissue is called fibrosis.
As the lung tissue becomes thicker, your lungs lose
their ability to move oxygen into your bloodstream, and your brain and other
organs dont receive the oxygen they need. (See the section on
How the Lungs Work for more
information.)
In some cases, doctors can find out what is causing
the fibrosis. But in most cases, they cant find a cause. They call these
cases idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
IPF is a serious condition. About 200,000 Americans
have it. About 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. IPF affects mostly
people 50 to 75 years of age.
IPF varies from person to person. In some people,
the lung tissue quickly becomes thick and stiff. In others, the process is much
slower, and in some people, the condition stays the same for years.
There is no cure for IPF yet. Many people live only
about 3 to 5 years after diagnosis. The most common cause of death related to
IPF is respiratory failure. Other causes include:
Some people may be more likely to develop IPF
because of their genes (the basic units of heredity). If more than one member
of your family has IPF, the condition is called familial idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis.
Today, scientists are beginning to understand more
about what causes IPF, and they can diagnose it more quickly. They also are
studying several medicines that may slow the progress of the disease. These
efforts should lead to longer and better quality lives for people with IPF.
January 2009 |