Management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: prognostic indicators
Du Bois, R.M.
Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 52(6): 547-551
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1122-0643 PMID: 9550864 Document Number: 472118
There now exists a number of approaches that can be used to predict likely responses to therapy and disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. These tools should be used in management decisions. It must be remembered that destroyed, fixed fibrotic lung will not improve and that the computed tomography pattern and extent of the "fibrotic" pattern should be used to determine if the best response to treatment that can be expected is a prevention of deterioration rather than improvement.