By Tricitynews Reporter
Chandigarh 21st
September:- Idiopathic
Pulmonary Fibrosis(IPF) is a devastating, irreversible and rare disease that
globally affects roughly 5 million individuals a year. Due to the increasing
incidence of IPF in Chandigarh, doctors from the Postgraduate Institute of
Medical Education and Research (PGI)today addressed the media with an aim to increase
awareness of the growing IPF cases, its distinct symptoms, lack of
treatment and disease associated deaths.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a type of lung disease that results in
damage and scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. Due to this, the lungs shrink in
size, thus affecting their ability to deliver oxygen to the body. The major
symptoms are in the form of progressive breathlessness and persistent dry
cough. The disease affects subjects usually above the age of 50 years. Males are
more commonly affected than females and the disease is seen more often in
smokers than non-smokers. As the disease progresses, day to day activities are
hampered as the individual suffering from IPF finds it extremely difficult to function
due to progressive breathlessness.
Highlighting the
incidence and symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Chandigarh, Prof.
Digambar Behera, Senior Professor and Head, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI said
that in the past few years, He has observed an
increase in the number of IPF cases. The disease is such that its symptoms tend
to vary from individual to individual, however, the initial symptoms always
involve breathlessness upon exertion and dry cough that lasts longer than 8
weeks.If any individual experiences these symptoms, it is extremely vital that
they visit a doctor for early and accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment and
better patient care.
The average life span of those affected with IPF is generally 2 to 5
years from the time of diagnosis. There is no cure for the disease. However,
only in the past few years, two drugs, namely pirfenidone and nintedanib have
become available that slow down the progression of the disease. Hence, early
diagnosis of IPF is of extreme importance as it will help reduce the effects of
the symptoms, the progression of the disease and possibly increase the life
span of the individual.
Emphasizing on
the causes of IPF, Dr. Ritesh Agarwal, Additional Professor, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine,PGI said that IPF is known to usually affect middle-aged and
older adults aged between 40 to 70 years. Smokers are at a higher risk of contracting
IPF in comparison to those who have never smoked. However, genetics can also play
a role in the development of IPF.
Commenting on the developments and progress in
IPF treatment, Dr. Sahajal Dhooria,
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI said that there is currently no cure or procedures that
can remove the scarring from the lungs. Further, the treatments available will
only reduce the scarring progression and may not necessarily reduce the
symptoms of cough, breathlessness and other symptoms associated with the
disease. Further, misdiagnosis is very easily possible wherein IPF can be
mistaken for ageing, cardiac disease, bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary diseases, and other types of interstitial lung diseases. While a form
of treatment called corticosteroids or steroids work in other forms of
interstitial lung diseases, they do not work in IPF. The most effective way to
diagnose IPF at an early stage is to create awareness and make sure that all respiratory
patients, especially after the age of 50 years are actively checked for IPF.
Commenting on the utility of lung
transplantation in the management of IPF, Dr. Ashutosh N. Aggarwal, Professor, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI said that as there is no cure available for IPF and the
disease has a relentless course despite treatment, the only option for advanced
stage disease is lung transplantation. In this, the lungs of the patient are
replaced by a single or both lungs taken from a dead donor. A successful
transplantation may increase survival of a patient with advanced IPF, with a
5-year survival rate of 50%. There is no clearly successful lung transplant
programme in India as yet, although a few cases have been reported from Chennai
and elsewhere. The PGI is in the process of starting a lung transplant
programme.
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