Complete resolution of apparently definite radiological and histological usual interstitial pneumonia

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is considered to be the most common form of pulmonary fibrosis. It is a progressive and irreversible disease with a reported median survival of ~3 years. The pathological correlate is usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), and although antifibrotic agents can slow down lun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African medical journal 2018-09, Vol.108 (9), p.726-728
Main Authors: Rigby, J., Simon, D., Irusen, E.M., Allwood, B.W., Koegelenberg, C.F.N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Care and treatment
Case studies
Diagnosis
Pulmonary fibrosis
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Summary:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is considered to be the most common form of pulmonary fibrosis. It is a progressive and irreversible disease with a reported median survival of ~3 years. The pathological correlate is usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), and although antifibrotic agents can slow down lung function decline, they do not completely reverse the disease process. To date, there have been no case reports describing reversal of UIP. We present a case where both the imaging and histology were compatible with definite UIP, yet it reversed with immunosuppressive therapy without the use of antifibrotic agents.
ISSN:0256-9574
2078-5135
DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2018.v108i9.13335