Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Trials in Chicago, IL

The goal of this study is to use the tissues from the explanted lungs in order to better study the cause of pulmonary fibrosis at a cellular level. Read Less

Acute exacerbations (AE) are a dreaded manifestation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that presents with rapidly worsening respiratory function over days to weeks. AE account for about 1/2 the deaths in IPF patients, and are refractory to all medical therapies attempted to date. Considerable preliminary data shows pathological B-cell abnormalities and autoantibodies are present in AE-IPF and associated with disease severity. The experimental therapy here (therapeutic plasma exchange plus rituximab plus intravenous immunoglobulin) is mechanistically targeted to ameliorate autoantibody-mediated pulmonary injury. Anecdotal pilot studies indicate these treatments have significant benefit for a disease syndrome that has, until now, been almost invariably inexorable. This clinical trial has the potential to profoundly affect current paradigms and treatment approaches to patients with AE-IPF. Read Less

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) results from a diverse group of health conditions and affects the lives of patients (including those who are post lung transplant), caregivers and family members. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Community Registry will offer an online portal where participants can self-enroll and directly contribute information about their experience with PF to be compiled into a longitudinal data set for use by researchers. Read Less