Symptoms stay at the more severe level for days or even weeks. As acute exacerbation wears off, patients return to their usual level of symptoms.
What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
ulmonary fibrosis is a disease in which lung tissue becomes scarred. Long-term damage to this tissue makes oxygen transfer in the body less efficient. Sufferers may find they are short of breath even when performing everyday activities.
Other symptoms include:
- A dry cough
- Muscle and joint aches
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fingers or toes that widen and become rounder at the tips
- Pulmonary fibrosis patients are at risk of acute exacerbation, a situation where symptoms get worse very quickly
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What Causes Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Many cases of pulmonary fibrosis are idiopathic. This means there is no clear cause for the disorder. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis generally grows worse over time, but the exact prognosis varies from one person to another.
Pulmonary fibrosis symptoms may come on suddenly and worsen dramatically for one person while taking many years to progress for another. One of the key questions asked by pulmonary fibrosis research is what factors contribute to more rapid disease progression.
Not all cases of pulmonary fibrosis are idiopathic. Environmental factors can cause damage to the tissues between air sacs in the lungs, eventually leading to pulmonary fibrosis. The disease is more common in people in mining, farming, and construction.
Risk factors discovered to date include:
- Exposure to toxins including silica dust, coal dust, and asbestos fibers
- Certain forms of radiation therapy for treating lung or breast cancer
- Some chemotherapy drugs, heart medications, and antibiotic drugs
- Several other medical conditions affecting the lungs, like pneumonia
Pulmonary fibrosis clinical trials have grown in number in recent years. New clinical resources for pulmonary fibrosis are often offered to patients on a trial basis to determine their efficacy.
How is Pulmonary Fibrosis Diagnosed?
Pulmonary fibrosis evaluation begins with a standard exam. Here, a doctor will take a medical history and listen to the patient’s breathing using a stethoscope. Imaging tests including x-ray, CT scans, and echocardiogram can be used to look at the lungs and heart.
If imaging tests reveal concerns, lung function tests are performed.
One of the most common is pulmonary function testing. This may include spiormetry, which measures lung capacity when a patient exhales forcefully, or an exercise stress test measuring lung function while jogging on a treadmill.
How is Pulmonary Fibrosis Treated or Cured?
No medication can reverse the lung damage associated with pulmonary fibrosis. While future treatments may prove effective in stopping the course of the disease, none are available yet.
Pirfenidone and nintedanib are two recent medications being prescribed to slow the progress of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Several other formulations are working through FDA approval.
Medication can ease symptoms of disorders that frequently appear alongside pulmonary fibrosis, such as GERD. Oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation are other options that strengthen and maintain lung capacity. In severe cases, lung transplantation is used.
Maintaining cardiovascular fitness through a personalized program of regular aerobic exercise is effective in helping many patients sustain healthier lungs.
Patients should be aware of how their body responds to exertion and avoid situations where they must stand or walk long periods of time without rest.
After a pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis, patients should cease smoking immediately. Also avoid situations where secondhand smoke or other airborne pollutants will be inhaled.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Trials
The following clinical trial are the most recent offered by Clinicaltrials.gov. If you would like us to feature any additional trials, please contact our team.
ClinicalTrials.gov: Recruiting Studies | Pulmonary Fibrosis | Last update posted in the last 300 days Studies found on ClinicalTrials.gov by a search of: Recruiting Studies | Pulmonary Fibrosis | Last update posted in the last 300 days
- Pulmonary Care and Research Collaborative Patient Registryon July 6, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Interstitial Lung DiseaseIntervention: Sponsors: Pulmonary Care and Research Collaborative Limited; Genentech, Inc.Recruiting
- First-in-human Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics of C106 in Healthy Subjectson June 22, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Safety Issues; Tolerance; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Pulmonary HypertensionInterventions: Drug: C106 solution; Drug: PlaceboSponsor: Vicore Pharma ABRecruiting
- Interstitial Lung Disease Research Unit Biobankon May 26, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Interstitial Lung Disease; Sarcoidosis; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Hypersensitivity PneumonitisIntervention: Sponsor: University of Kansas Medical CenterRecruiting
- Safety and Effectiveness of EV-Pure + WJ-Pure Treatment on Pulmonary Fibrosis Secondary to Covid-19on May 24, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Pulmonary Fibrosis; COVID-19 Respiratory InfectionInterventions: Drug: EV-Pure™ and WJ-Pure™ plus standard care; Drug: PlaceboSponsor: Vitti Labs, LLCRecruiting
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Community Registryon May 19, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Pulmonary Fibrosis; Interstitial Lung Disease; Lung Fibrosis; Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisIntervention: Sponsors: University of Michigan; Pulmonary Fibrosis FoundationRecruiting
- Optimising Screening for Early Disease Detection in Familial Pulmonary Fibrosison May 10, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Pulmonary Fibrosis Idiopathic FamilialIntervention: Sponsors: St. Antonius Hospital; ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development; Boeringer IngelheimRecruiting
- FAPI PET for Lung Fibrosison May 9, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Interstitial Lung Disease; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias; Drug-Induced Pneumonitis; Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis; Radiation Pneumonitis; Pneumoconiosis; Pulmonary FibrosisInterventions: Drug: 68Ga-FAPi-46; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Procedure: Positron Emission TomographySponsor: University of California, Los AngelesRecruiting
- Effect of CPAP on Abnormal Gastroesophageal Reflux and Lung Inflammation in IPFon May 4, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Obstructive Sleep Apnea; Gastro Esophageal RefluxIntervention: Device: Positive Airway PressureSponsors: University of Arizona; Boehringer IngelheimRecruiting
- Effects of Home-based Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients With IPFon April 29, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; IPFInterventions: Device: Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT); Device: Sham IMTSponsor: Dokuz Eylul UniversityRecruiting
- A Multicenter Clinical Trial of Sputum DNA Testing for Lung Cancer in Chinaon April 20, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Lung Cancer; Small Cell Lung Cancer; Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Adenocarcinoma; Large Cell Carcinoma; Adenosquamous Carcinoma; Sarcomatoid Carcinoma; Respiratory Tract Infection; Acute Bronchitis; Pneumonia; Chronic Bronchitis; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Tuberculosis; Lung Neoplasm; Pulmonary Interstitial FibrosisInterventions: Diagnostic Test: Diagnostic Test: Sputum DNA methylation analysis; Procedure: chest CT or pathological examinationSponsors: Creative Biosciences (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.; Guangzhou Xiangkang Medical Research Co., Ltd.Recruiting
- A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Pharmacokinetic Properties of LASN01 in Healthy Subjects and in Patients With Pulmonary Fibrosison April 15, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Pulmonary FibrosisInterventions: Drug: LASN01; Drug: PlaceboSponsor: Lassen Therapeutics 1, Inc.Recruiting
- Controlled Investigation to Evaluate Impact of dCBT in Adult Subjects With IPFon April 15, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Depression; Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisIntervention: Device: digital cognitive behavioral therapySponsors: Vicore Pharma AB; Curebase, Inc.Recruiting
Match to Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Trials
- Access to cutting-edge treatments
- Latest clinical trials
- Find trials in your area
- https://www.medicinenet.com/pulmonary_fibrosis/article.htm
- https://medlineplus.gov/pulmonaryfibrosis.html
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10959-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
- https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/
- https://pulmonaryfibrosisnews.com/pulmonary-fibrosis-lifestyle/
- https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/life-with-pf