Interstitial Lung Disease |
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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
 Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Signs and Symptoms Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a condition that causes progressive scarring of the lungs. The cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is unknown. IPF involves chronic injury to the lung's tissues, which then prompts an exaggerated healing response. As a result, over time, fibrous scar tissue builds up in the lungs, affecting the lung's ability to provide the body with necessary amounts of oxygen.
Although the cause of IPF is unknown, certain risk factors may increase a person's chance of developing the condition. These include occupational exposure to metal dust or wood dust, smoking cigarettes, viral infection and a family history of PF.
IPF affects 83,000 people in the United States with 15,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Typically, the disease is diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 70 and affects men more frequently than women.
Symptoms of IPF may occur gradually and include:
- Shortness of breath, particularly during or after physical activity
- Chronic dry hacking cough
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Build-up of tissue in the fingertips, a condition called clubbing
Over time, symptoms of IPF may worsen and lead to other complications, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, blood clot in the lungs, lung infection and lung cancer.
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007
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