Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating, progressive condition with a median survival of 2.8 – 4 years from diagnosis. Clinicians confronted with a patient with fibrosing lung disease need to be reliably able to distinguish IPF from other diffuse parenchymal lung diseases.
Furthermore, they need to be able to gauge prognosis, evaluate the timing of interventions including referral for transplant, assess reliably the effectiveness of treatment and be able to detect rapidly the development of disease complications.
Publication information
Maher TM'Diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and its complications', Expert Opin Med Diagn 2008; 2: 1317 – 1331.