| Health / Medical Topics |
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Definition 1
Chronic progressive interstitial lung disorder characterized by the replacement of the lung tissue by connective tissue, leading to progressive dyspnea, respiratory failure, or right heart failure. Causes include chronic inflammatory processes, exposure to environmental irritants, radiation therapy, autoimmune disorders, certain drugs, or it may be idiopathic (no identifiable cause). (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 2
A disorder characterized by the replacement of the lung tissue by connective tissue, leading to progressive dyspnea, respiratory failure or right heart failure. (NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)
Definition 3
Chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the pulmonary alveolar walls, with steadily progressive dyspnea, resulting finally in death from oxygen lack or right heart failure. (NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
More information
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the tissue deep in your lungs becomes scarred over time. This tissue gets thick and stiff. That makes it hard for you to catch your breath, and your blood may not get enough oxygen.
Causes of pulmonary fibrosis include environmental pollutants, some medicines, some connective tissue diseases, and interstitial lung disease. Interstitial lung disease is the name for a large group of diseases that inflame or scar the lungs. In most cases, the cause cannot be found. This is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Symptoms include
• Shortness of breath
• A dry, hacking cough that doesn't get better
• Fatigue
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Aching muscles and joints
• Clubbing, which is the widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes
Your doctor may use your medical history, imaging tests, a biopsy, and lung function tests to diagnose pulmonary fibrosis. There is no cure. Treatments can help with symptoms and improve your quality of life. They include medicines, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, or a lung transplant. (NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
