Diseases » Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis » Summary

What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Contents

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Introduction
Types of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Prognosis
Complications
Other names for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Who gets Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
What causes Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
What are the symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Organs Affected by Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
How is it treated?
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Introduction

What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Lung fibrosis from unknown causes.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the pulmonary alveolar walls with steady progressive dyspnea; finally, resulting in death from lack of oxygen or right heart failure.
Source - Diseases Database

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or a subtype of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Introduction

Types of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis:

Broader types of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis:

Who gets Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Patient Profile for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Typically age 40-70.

Gender Profile for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Men and women equally.

How serious is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Prognosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Poor. Often death within 4-6 years of diagnosis.
Complications of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: see complications of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

What causes Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: see causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Cause of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Unknown. Perhaps autoimmune or reaction to a respiratory infection.