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­­Pulmonary Fibrosis

 

Definition of pulmonary fibrosis

  • The end-stage of many different pulmonary diseases. The lungs become fibrosed (thickened, stiff and scarred) and lack their usual elasticity and compliance. It can be localised (e.g. one lobe) or affect the whole lung.

 

 Epidemiology of pulmonary fibrosis

  •  Idiopathic disease approximately 10 per 100,000 per year
  • Increases with age: peak incidence 50-70 year-olds

 

 Causes of pulmonary fibrosis (see fibrosis question section for mnemonics)

  • Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)
    • Also called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Cryptogenic Fibrosing Alveolitis (CFA)
  • Rheumatological
    • Rheumatoid arthritis; SLE; dermatomyositis; polymyositis; mixed connective tissue disease; Sjogrens; anklylosing spondylitis; systemic sclerosis (CREST)
  • Occupational
    • Asbestosis
    • Silicosis
    • Beryliosis
    • Pneumoconiosis
    • Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (EAA)
  • Infection
    • Aspergillosis (ABPA)
    • TB
  • Drugs
    • Amiodarone
    • Methotrexate
    • Bleomycin
    • Cyclophosphamide
    • Nitrofurantoin
  • Vasculitis
    • Wegeners; Churg-strauss; Goodpastures
  • Radiation fibrosis
  • Aspiration
  • Sarcoid
  • Histiocytosis

 

Presentations of pulmonary fibrosis

  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough: usually non-productive
  • Haemoptysis
  • Chest pain
  • Wheeze
  • On examination:
    • Clubbing
    • Fine bilateral basal ‘velcro’ crackles
    • Signs of cor pulmonare (RV heave, peripheral oedema, raised JVP)
    • Signs of underlying cause (e.g. associated auto-immune disease)

 

 Differential diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis

  • COPD (predominantly bronchitis)
  • Asthma
  • Heart failure

 

 Investigation of pulmonary fibrosis

  • Bloods
    • FBC, U&E, LFT, CRP
    • ESR
    • Autoimmune profile
      • RF; ANA; ANCA; anti-GBM
    • CK (raised in dermatomyositis)
    • ACE (may be raised in sarcoid)
  • ABG (Type 1 respiratory failure)
  • CXR
    • Reduced volume and reticulonodular shadowing
    • Honeycombing
  • Lung function tests
    • Restrictive pattern (FEV1/FVC>70%)
    • Low TLC
    • Reduced KCO
  • High-resolution CT chest (HRCT)
    • Distribution of fibrosis to sub-pleural lung is typical of IPF/ UIP
    • Reticular opacities
    • Sub-pleural honeycombing
    • Traction bronchiectasis
  • Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) and biopsy
    • Important as lymphocytes > neutrophils indicate a better response to steroids and a better prognosis

 

Diagnostic criteria for Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) / Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

  • Major Criteria
    • Exclusion of other causes e.g. drug toxicities, connective tissue disease
    • Abnormal pulmonary function studies (evidence of restriction)
    • Bibasilar reticular abnormalities with minimal ground glass opacities on HRCT
    • No evidence of alternative diagnosis on transbronchial biopsy or BAL
  • Minor Criteria
    • Age > 50
    • Insidious onset of otherwise unexplained dyspnoea on exertion
    • Duration > 3 months
    • Bibasilar inspiratory crackles
  • Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is defined pathologically by a heterogenous appearance with alternating areas of normal lung, interstitial inflammation, fibrosis and honeycomb change affecting the peripheral supleural parenchyma most severely.

 

 Management of pulmonary fibrosis

  • Medical
    • Prednisolone
    • Azathioprine and cyclophosphamide
    • Pirfenidone
      • Licensed for use in patient with UIP with FEV 50-80% predicted (NICE guidelines)
  • Home oxygen
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Lung transplant
    • Indications
      • Age under 60 with expectancy under 18 months
      • Match for ABO, not Rh
      • Double transplant preferred
      • Donor
        • Good cardiac and lung function, age under 40
        • Chest diameter slightly less than recipient

 

 Complications of pulmonary fibrosis

  • Respiratory failure
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Pneumothorax
  • Increased risk of bronchogenic cancer

 

 Prognosis of pulmonary fibrosis

  • Variable and depends on type
  • Highly cellular with ground glass infiltrate: good response to immunosuppression
    • 80% 5 year survival
  • Honey-combing on CT and no response to immunosuppression
    • 20% 5 year survival

 

Click here for medical student OSCE and PACES questions about pulmonary fibrosis

Common pulmonary fibrosis exam questions for medical students, finals, OSCEs and MRCP PACES

 

Click here to download free teaching notes on pulmonary fibrosis: Pulmonary Fibrosis

Perfect revision for medical students, finals, OSCEs and MRCP PACES