Pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease that results in the loss of respiratory capacity. It happens very slowly and can appear at any age, although the most common is between 40 and 70 years.

Those who suffer from this ailment, their functional lung tissue (alveoli) are progressively replaced by fibrous tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis can kill a person's ability to breathe. It is classified within interstitial lung diseases and is also called cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis.

Why is it produced?

There are genetic, immunological and mainly viral factors that would be related to the appearance of this disease. Some patients with pulmonary fibrosis presented, at the beginning of the disease, symptoms related to a viral infection (joint pain and fever). Environmental and occupational factors (asbestosis and silicosis), as well as radiation and some medications could also be at the origin of this pathology.

In cases where the causes are unknown, pulmonary fibrosis is called idiopathic.

What are the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis?

Usually the first symptoms are shortness of breath on exertion and a persistent dry cough. In some cases it presents in a very acute form that evolves in a few days to severe respiratory failure.

In the physical examination 75-90% of the auscultation stands out, crackling rales (sensation of bubbles) on inspiration and the existence of “drumstick fingers” (clubbing) in a similar percentage.

In advanced cases, hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure and respiratory failure appear, so it is common for the patient to end up needing home oxygen. However, sometimes clinical worsening is due to complications such as lung cancer, pneumothorax, pulmonary thromboembolism, and infections such as.

Diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis

After evaluation of the symptoms and physical examination, imaging tests are required for the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, although confirmation is made by lung biopsy.

The chest radiograph shows a pattern of interstitial involvement predominantly in the lower fields that the chest CT shows more precisely. In the same way, it allows diagnosing early stages and the extent of the disease.

blood tests do not show specific alterations, although the blood velocity may be high, together with certain antinuclear antibodies, immunoglobulins, and rheumatoid factor, all without being characteristic of lung disease.

Treatment of the disease

To alleviate pulmonary fibrosis, corticosteroids must be administered to reduce lung inflammation, but only 20% of cases respond to this treatment. In these cases, immunosuppressants are usually administered, although their efficacy is not 100% proven either.

If pulmonary fibrosis occurs in young patients, it is best to consider the possibility of performing a lung transplant.

In some isolated cases, several members of the same family can be affected by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including infants. The evolution is usually similar to the rest of cases, although perhaps with a lower radiological reflex to the same respiratory symptoms.

Remember…

At the slightest sign of pulmonary fibrosis, it is very important to see a specialist doctor.

MAPFRE Health Insurance has a large staff of specialists in Pneumology to be able to care for the patient properly and quickly perform all the necessary diagnostic tests.