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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Medical Author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

What are the signs and symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)?

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The symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are nonspecific, and are similar to many other types of pulmonary cardiac diseases. The majority of people with the disease have about a 6 month or more history of shortness of breath and/or nonproductive cough. About 5% of individuals with IPF have no symptoms, but are diagnosed when being examined for other medical problems. The signs and symptoms that may occur in some people with IPF are:

Six months or greater history of shortness of breath and/or cough
Fatigue
Mild fevers
Weight loss
Joint discomfort
Muscle pain
Clubbing or enlargement of fingers
Ankle swelling
Heart murmur (tricuspid regurgitation)

What causes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)?

Inclusion of the word "idiopathic" means that this type of fibrosis has an unknown cause. Current hypotheses include exposure to some type of agent (for example, environmental dust, viral infection, reflux, aspiration of gastrointestinal contents, and others) that leads to the alveolar damage in the lungs. Researchers further hypothesize that in attempt to repair the alveolar damage, fibrosis and lung scarring occur to produce eventually clinical pulmonary fibrosis.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 8/29/2016

Next: What are the stages of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)?

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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - Experience
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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - Symptoms
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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - Treatments
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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - Life Change
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