Table 4 Summary of other drugs used in the treatment of IPF

Therapeutic agent	Trial design	Drug combination	Conclusion	Reference
ColchicineProposed effect: inhibits fibroblast collagen production and may reduce degradation354^–356	(1) Uncontrolled, randomised, prospective	Colchicine vs high-dose prednisolone	No survival advantage between groups	Douglas et al357
	(2) Uncontrolled, non-randomised, prospective	Colchicine + prednisolone vs prednisolone only vs colchicine, penicillamine + prednisolone	Does not alter the course of steroid-treated IPF	Selman et al358

PenicillamineProposed effect:inhibits collagen synthesis and cross linkage359 360	(1) Uncontrolled, non-randomised, prospective	Penicillamine + prednisolone vs prednisolone only vs colchicine, penicillamine + prednisolone	Does not alter the course of steroid-treated IPF	Selman et al358
	(2) Uncontrolled, non-randomised	Penicillamine + prednisolone vs azathioprine + prednisolone	No difference between groups	Meier-Sydow et al361

CyclosporinProposed effect: suppresses T helper cells and TGFβ signalling362 363	(1) Prospective, open, controlled	Cyclosporin	Numbers too few to analyse	Alton et al364
	(2) Short-term, open label	Prednisolone + cyclosporine	Might permit reduction of steroids before transplantation	Venuta et al365