Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis management
Summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis causes irreversible damage to the lungs, and pharmacological cure is not possible. Patients who are diagnosed with the disease have complex management needs and should be cared for by specialist multidisciplinary teams.
Treatment is aimed at slowing the progression of the disease, alleviating symptoms, preventing exacerbations and improving quality of life. Oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation are currently the main treatment options and an increasing number of pharmacological options aimed at slowing disease progression are becoming available.
Lloyd Mayers is a respiratory pharmacist at North Bristol NHS Trust and Patricia Ging is transplant and pulmonary hypertension pharmacist at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland.
Citation: Clinical Pharmacist DOI: 10.1211/CP.2013.11127259
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