EDITORIAL

Lung function estimates in IPF

Lung function estimates in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the potential for a simple classification

J J Egan¹, F J Martinez², A U Wells³, T Williams⁴

¹ The Mater Misericordiae Hospital and St Vincent’s University Hospital, The Conway Institute, Dublin Molecular Medicine Center, University College Dublin, Ireland
² Taubman Center 3916, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0360, USA
³ Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Emmanuel Kaye Building, Manresa Road, London SW6 LR6, UK
⁴ Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr J Egan
Advanced Lung Disease and Irish National Lung Transplant Program, The Mater Misericordiae Hospital and St Vincent’s University Hospital, The Conway Institute, Dublin Molecular Medicine Center, University College Dublin, Ireland; jegan@mater.ie

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Application of a classification based on simple lung function testing in IPF

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Abbreviations: BOS, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; IIP, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia; IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; NSIP, ; non-specific interstitial pneumonia, ; TLC, total lung capacity; TLCO, carbon monoxide lung transfer factor; UIP, usual interstitial pneumonia

Keywords: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; lung function; classification

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

For many years the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) community has debated the merits of the histopathological classification of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP).¹ The ATS/ERS consensus statement identifies the importance of histological categories of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). Furthermore, it emphasises that IPF is the clinical correlate of UIP. Despite the recognition of the importance of histological characterisation, surgical biopsy rates vary considerably.² Most clinicians do not subject their patients to surgical biopsy, despite the potential prognostic benefit of detailed histological evaluation, because many patients are elderly and have significantly impaired lung function and other medical co-morbidities resulting in a potentially high mortality rate.³ In addition, HRCT scanning provides diagnostic data of high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of IPF with acceptable interobserver variability.^4,5

Meanwhile, the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung transplantation communities have applied simple but pragmatically . . . [Full text of this article]

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