Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a disease of the lower respiratory tract that damages the air sacs (alveoli) and leads to reduced transfer of oxygen to the blood. It causes widespread scarring of the lung.
The condition is believed to result from an inflammatory response to an unknown agent -- "idiopathic" means no cause can be found. The disease occurs most often in people between 50 and 70 years old.
Symptoms:
Shortness of breath on exertion that lasts for months or years and eventually is present at rest
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history.
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have abnormal breath sounds called crackles. Patients with advanced disease may have blue-colored skin (cyanosis) around the mouth or in the fingernails due to low oxygen.
Examination of the fingers and toes may reveal clubbing (abnormal enlargement of the fingernail bases).
Tests that help diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis include the following:
Tests for connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma
Review Date: 5/3/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
