Pulmonary Fibrosis Paid Clinical Trials in Pennsylvania

The purpose of the study is to identify genetic and biologic markers that may predict the loss of lung function due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The studies will compare genetic and biologic markers of samples to changes in symptoms. The ultimate goal is to predict if or when patients are likely to experience a rapid decline in lung function due to disease progression. 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