Pulmonary fibrosis - symptoms, causes and possible therapies
Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease with increasing breathlessness. Find out more about the causes, symptoms and supportive treatment approaches.
Things worth knowing about "Pulmonary fibrosis"
Lung fibrosis is a chronically progressive lung disease in which hardening and scarring of the lung tissue occurs.
The fine air sacs (alveoli), in which oxygen exchange takes place, lose their elasticity due to fibrosis. The result is difficulty breathing, especially during exercise, as well as an increasing decline in lung function. In the late stages, oxygen uptake at rest is also impaired.
There are various forms of pulmonary fibrosis, including the common idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), where the cause is unknown. Other possible triggers are autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), inhaled pollutants (e.g. asbestos, quartz dust). e.g. asbestos, quartz dust), medications or chronic infections. Also COVID-19-associated fibrosis is increasingly being observed.As the disease usually progresses gradually, it is often recognised late. There is currently no cure, but there are various therapeutic approaches to slow down the progression of the disease. These include antifibrotic drugs such as nintedanib or pirfenidone, oxygen therapy, exercise therapy and supporting micronutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, curcumin or lactoferrin, which can have an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect.
Possible causes:
- Idiopathic (IPF, most common form)
- Autoimmune (e.g. B. Scleroderma, lupus)
- Toxic inhalation (smoking, environmental toxins, mould)
- Infections, incl. viral triggers such as SARS-CoV-2
- medication side effects (e.g. chemotherapeutic agents)
- . e.g. chemotherapeutic agents)
Therapeutic & supportive approaches:
- Antifibrotics (nintedanib, pirfenidone)
- Respiratory physiotherapy, regular exercise
- Oxygen administration to relieve the heart
- Micronutrients with inflammation-modulating potential: Omega-3, Vitamin D, Curcumin, Lactoferrin, Magnesium
- Stress management and psychological support
Literature references:
- Raghu, G. et al. (2011): An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT statement: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med.
- King, T.E. et al. (2014): A phase 3 trial of pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med.
- Wollin, L. et al. (2015): Mode of action of nintedanib in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Eur Respir J.
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Related search terms: Pulmonary fibrosis-en