Sunday, August 14, 2016

Some Good News on the IPF Front

The Pulmonary Fibrosis News recently reported on a study out of Japan that found "Adding Recomodulin (thrombomodulin) to the standard treatment given for an acute exacerbation of lung fibrosis more than doubled patients’ chances to survive..."

An Acute Exacerbation of  Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (AE-IPF) is about the greatest fear of a person living with the disease.  Just as recently as March of last year, the Journal of Thoracic Disease published that "To date, no randomized, controlled trials specifically directed at the treatment of AE-IPF have been reported".  Using the current recommended management approach for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of IPF, The survival rate is very low. Mortality rate can be as high at 85%.  A treatment that can cut this mortality rate in half is a significant step forward and helps to provide hope for IPF patients and their families.

The study: Efficacy of thrombomodulin for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia: a nonrandomized prospective study 

The PF News report on the study: Anticoagulant Seen to Improve Survival in Lung Fibrosis Patients During Flares

More on Acute Exacerbation's of IPF (now slightly outdated): Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis—a review of current and novel pharmacotherapies  


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