Fast Five Quiz: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Differential Diagnosis

Guy W. Soo Hoo, MD, MPH; Zab Mosenifar, MD

April 04, 2022

In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the antifibrotic agents nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase receptor blocker, and pirfenidone, a pyridine derivative, for the treatment of IPF. Although neither is curative, studies have demonstrated that both can slow the fibrotic changes associated with IPF, which preserves lung function and reduces the risk for acute exacerbations. The 2018 updated clinical practice guidelines for IPF by the American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Society include recommendations to facilitate early diagnosis and provide guidance on treatment.

Radiation therapy is not an appropriate treatment for IPF.

Support groups may be helpful, but this is not a reason for early diagnosis.

Learn more about antifibrotic agents for IPF.

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Cite this: Guy W. Soo Hoo, Zab Mosenifar. Fast Five Quiz: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Differential Diagnosis - Medscape - Apr 04, 2022.

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