What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)?
Who can get IPF?
What causes IPF?
What are the symptoms?
How is IPF diagnosed?
What treatment is available?
How can I help myself?
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Welfare benefits
IPF used to be known as fibrosing alveolitis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is caused by repeated injury to small areas of your lung. This results in inflammation of your lungs and then scarring. If you have IPF your lung function will get gradually worse. Scars serve a good purpose in the skin - they heal injured areas. But in the lung, scar tissue stops the lung doing its job - taking oxygen from the air and passing it into the blood. So you may have breathing difficulties or get breathless from simple activities such as walking and talking. If it's not known what has caused the condition, it is called 'idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis' - IPF (or 'cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis' - CFA). These are different names for the same thing. It is important to note that IPF is not cancer. It is not infectious either.
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The number of IPF cases seem to be rising, but it's not clear why. It generally affects people in middle age (usually aged 50+) and it’s more common in men. It is also more common among smokers.
We don't know what causes IPF. But we do know that:
It is not an infection
It can not be caught from other people
It is not a form of cancer
It is not a form of cystic fibrosis.
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Although we don’t know exactly what causes IPF, a number of factors are thought to trigger it off. These factors include:
• Viral infections: Epstein-Barr virus and Hepatitis C
• Gastro-oesophageal reflu this is where the contents of your stomach come back up into your throat. If you inhale it, this can cause damage to your lungs
• You may be more likely to get IPF if you are exposed to avariety of occupational dusts or if you smoke
• There is evidence that you can inherit a tendency to develop some types of IPF - it can run in families.
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The most common symptom you may have is breathlessness, especially when taking exercise, such as walking up hills or stairs. Since the disease may come on in your mid-50s, you shouldn't think that breathlessness is just part of middle age. If you feel breathless, you should see your doctor.
We do have less energy as we get older and this can have an effect on breathing. However, your breathing will be affected more severely if you have IPF.
Less common symptoms you may have are a dry cough and a change in the shape of your fingernails and toenails.
If you feel you have these symptoms, you should ask your doctor for a diagnosis as quickly as possible.
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As IPF is one of the less common lung diseases your GP will probably have seen very few, if any, people who have it. So to find out if you have IPF, you will need to be referred to a chest specialist.
The investigations will usually include a chest X-ray and a set of breathing tests. These involve breathing in and out of a lung function machine (pictured left), which shows how well your lungs are working. You will usually also have a blood test. You should also have a 'high resolution CT scan.' This produces a detailed three-dimensional picture of your lungs.
The consultant may also need samples of lung cells to examine. To do this, they pass a small, flexible telescope (a bronchoscope) down your breathing tubes - you will have a mild sedative while they do this. This process allows the consultant to collect samples of the cells that line the lungs. This helps diagnosis.
Because other diseases can look like IPF, the consultant may need to remove a small piece of your lung to confirm the diagnosis. This 'keyhole' procedure always involves a general anaesthetic. The modern technique is called a 'video assisted thoracoscopic sample' - or VATS.
These investigations allow your consultant to have as clear a picture as possible of the precise nature of the problem.
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IPF gets worse over time, but there may be periods when it remains stable. In the majority of people, IPF responds poorly to treatment, although the outlook is better in younger age groups.
Whatever treatment you receive, if you smoke, it is important that you stop.
Some of the more common forms of treatment are:
Steroids - a low dose of prednisolone is often used to help reduce inflammation in the lungs.
Side-effects - Long-term use of steroids results in weight gain. They may also trigger diabetes and raised blood pressure if you have the tendency to get them. Other side effects include:
- Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) particularly in women past the menopause
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Stomach problems.
A balance is needed between the potential benefits of treatment and the risk of side-effects.
Steroids can also be prescribed with:
Immunosuppressants - azathioprine or cyclophosphamide. These act to suppress the body's immune system, which is thought to be partly responsible for IPF.
Side-effects - This treatment can increase the likelihood of infections and may affect your blood in other ways. For example it can produce anaemia or clotting problems.
Occasionally methotraxate can cause lung imflammation. Once again, a balance is needed between the potential benefits of treatment and the risk of side-effects.
Tablets that help to reduce inflammation, called n-acetylcysteine, may also help.
Oxygen - when IPF is very bad, the level of oxygen in your blood falls and you feel more breathless. Your respiratory specialist will prescribe an oxygen concentrator for you, which will help your breathing. You should also ask for portable oxygen to help you get out and about. The level of oxygen in your blood will be monitored so that you are getting the correct flow of oxygen from your concentrator.
The more inflammation you have, the better you will respond to treatment. Scarring is less likely to respond well to treatment than inflammation.
Changes in your symptoms and lung function tests show how you are responding to treatment. When, and if, the most improvement is achieved, the aim is to maintain that while giving you less medication. The long-term aim is to keep IPF suppressed on the smallest possible dosage of medication.
People may need treatment for the rest of their lives. This is because IPF is suppressed rather than cured. Your blood will be checked regularly to make sure you are not getting too much treatment. If you do not respond to treatment, your drugs will be stopped.
If your IPF continues to get worse, your consultant may think about a lung transplant. This decision is based on:
• The severity of your condition
• How quickly your condition is getting worse
• Whether you will be more likely to do better with or without a transplant
• Whether a donor lung is available.
Few people are candidates for a lung transplant.
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You can help yourself stay as healthy as possible if you:
• Get a flu jab each year
• Get immunised against infection with the pneumococcus bacterium (you only have this once)
• Keep away from people with chest infections and colds
• Stay as fit as you can
• Eat a good, balanced diet. Speak to your doctor/nurse for a referral to a dietician. He/she can suggest the most effective diet for you. The right diet will help your muscles keep their strength - including your breathing muscles
• If you are overweight because you have become less active, then a weight-reducing diet may help.
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If you have IPF, you might well benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation courses. These courses mix physical exercise, education about how to live with your condition and psychological and social support. Many people living with chronic (long-term) lung diseases, like IPF, feel they lack this help.
Each course is run by a team that may include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists and dieticians. We know that pulmonary rehabilitation can improve your physical function, enhance your quality of life and increase your sense of independence.
First, talk with your consultant about whether you will benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. 160 hospitals or chest clinics in the UK currently run courses - you can check with your consultant or call the BLF helpline on 03000 030 555 to find your nearest course.
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You may be eligible for a number of benefits. If you need help with personal care or getting about, you may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. If you care for someone living with IPF, you may also be entitled to Carer's Allowance.
For more details, contact the British Lung Foundation helpline on 03000 030 555 for a confidential benefits check.
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Page last medically reviewed: April '08
