Anon - Thanks for your question and welcome to EmpowHER. For those who don't know, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis (scarring) of tissue in the lungs.
Treatment is highly variable and typically patients are given a very individualized treatment plan. Yes, medications may be included. If I'm understanding your question correctly, you want to know if the medications can cure or reverse this. The answer is no. The types of medications that are generally used are ones that reduce inflammation. Some doctors also add medications to suppress the body's immune system. These treatments can prevent further scarring of the lungs and help increase the patient's survival rate, but they don't work for everyone.
Treatment also often includes oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. In some cases a lung transplant may be warranted.
As with all chronic conditions, IPF requires lifelong treatment and attention. We have a Pulmonary Fibrosis community on the EmpowHER site with many helpful articles, and you can also find good information from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, including this page on treatments: http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/Treatment
The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute also has extensive information on treatment: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ipf/ipf_treatments.html
Let us know if you have additional questions, and we hope your treatment goes well.
Comment Reply
Anon - Thanks for your question and welcome to EmpowHER. For those who don't know, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis (scarring) of tissue in the lungs.
Treatment is highly variable and typically patients are given a very individualized treatment plan. Yes, medications may be included. If I'm understanding your question correctly, you want to know if the medications can cure or reverse this. The answer is no. The types of medications that are generally used are ones that reduce inflammation. Some doctors also add medications to suppress the body's immune system. These treatments can prevent further scarring of the lungs and help increase the patient's survival rate, but they don't work for everyone.
Treatment also often includes oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. In some cases a lung transplant may be warranted.
As with all chronic conditions, IPF requires lifelong treatment and attention. We have a Pulmonary Fibrosis community on the EmpowHER site with many helpful articles, and you can also find good information from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, including this page on treatments: http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/Treatment
The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute also has extensive information on treatment: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ipf/ipf_treatments.html
Let us know if you have additional questions, and we hope your treatment goes well.
Take care,
August 26, 2010 - 6:30pmPat
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