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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
DefinitionIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause.Alternative NamesIdiopathic diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis; IPF; Pulmonary fibrosis; Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis; CFA; Fibrosing alveolitis; Usual interstitial pneumonitis; UIPCauses, incidence, and risk factorsNo one knows what causes pulmonary fibrosis or why some people get it. It causes the lungs to become scarred and stiffened. This stiffening may make it increasingly difficult to breathe. In some people the disease gets worse quickly (over months to a few years), but other people have little worsening of the disease over time.The condition is believed to result from an inflammatory response to an unknown substance. "Idiopathic" means no cause can be found. The disease occurs most often in people between 50 and 70 years old.SymptomsChest pain(occasionally)Cough (usually dry)Decreased tolerance for activityShortness of breath during activity (this symptom lasts for months or years, and over time may also occur when at rest)Signs and testsThe health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. Your doctor will ask whether you have been exposed to asbestos and if you have been a smoker.Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have abnormal breath sounds called crackles. Patients with advanced disease may have blue-colored skin (cyanosis) around the mouth or in the fingernails due to low oxygen.Examination of the fingers and toes may show abnormal enlargement of the fingernail bases (clubbing).Tests that help diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis include the following:Bronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsyChest CT scanChest x-rayMeasurements of blood oxygen levelPulmonary function testsSurgical lung biopsyTests for connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or sclerodermaTreatmentNo known cure exists for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Unfortunately, no medication has been shown to improve the outcome of patients with this condition.For some people, medications such as corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs may help reduce swelling (inflammation).Ongoing clinical studies are experimenting with new treatments that have been shown to help some people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.Oxygen may be necessary in patients who have low blood oxygen levels.Lung rehabilitation will not cure the disease, but can help maintain exercise capacity (the ability to exercise without breathing difficulty).Some patients with advanced pulmonary fibrosis may need a lung transplant.Support GroupsYou can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.See also: Lung disease - support groupExpectations (prognosis)Some patients may improve when they are treated with corticosteroids or cytotoxic drugs, but in most people the disease can get worse even with treatment. This worsening can happen quickly, or very slowly.ComplicationsChronic hypoxemia (low blood oxygen level)Cor pulmonalePneumothoraxPolycythemia (abnormally high levels of red blood cells)Pulmonary hypertensionRespiratoryfailureCalling your health care providerCall for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop:A regular coughShortness of breathPreventionAvoiding smoking may help prevent this condition, but how to prevent the cause is not known.ReferencesAmerican Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS). Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: diagnosis and treatment: international consensus statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 161:646-664.Noth I, Martinez FJ. Recent advances in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chest. 2007; 132(2).
Why does clubbing occurs in liver cirrhosis?
Even though clubbing is a widely recognized symptom of many diseases the physiological mechanism that actually causes clubbing is not well understood. Current understanding is that these diseases cause http://www.answers.com/topic/vasodilator in the distal circulation which leads to http://www.answers.com/topic/organ-hypertrophy of the tissue of the nailbeds and thus to the clubbed fingernails. Other factors that have been implicated are the local effects of growth factors (such as http://www.answers.com/topic/platelet-derived-growth-factor and http://www.answers.com/topic/hepatocyte-growth-factor) that are usually sequestrated in the pulmonary capillary bed. Many of the conditions associated with clubbing result in shunting across some of the capillary beds in the pulmonary circulation.http://www.answers.com/clubbing See the Related Links for "The aetiology of clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy." to the bottom for the answer.
Are Purple fingertips in cystic fibrosis patience normal?
Yes, the finger nails are often bluish in patients with Cystic Fibrosis. Clubbing of the fingernails is also seen in later stages of CF. My daughter had CF for 34 years before dying of Sepsis (blood infection), 115 days after a double lung transplant.
When was Clubbing - comics - created?
Clubbing - comics - was created in 2007.
When did Clubbing - comics - happen?
Clubbing - comics - happened in 2007.
What is a blunting of the the distal phalanges seen in advanced chronic pulmonary disease?
Blunting of the distal phalanges is a diagnostic term referring to the "clubbing" of the fingertips as was documented by Hippocrates in conjunction with the occurrence of advanced pulmonary disease. Hence, it is also referred to as "Hippocratic fingers." It is a deformity of the fingers evident in several diseases, but perhaps most notable in the later stages of lung and heart dysfunction. Other names for this phenomena include "drumstick fingers" and "watch-glass nails." Perhaps a more practical phrasing of the question would refer to blunting of the fingertips in heart and lung conditions as opposed to an ass-raping of medical terms that an average yet intelligent person would not bother slogging through to find such an unexciting answer. "What do clubbed fingers indicate in advanced pulmonary disease?" would perhaps be a more streamlined and less pedantic phrasing of the question...unless the sole purpose was to intimidate those with a life-threatening chronic illness. Congratulations...maybe another useless specialist understood that question but the information rendered was completely ineffectual for the non-medical community.
What is the cure for clubbing of the nails?
Clubbing of the nails are indicative of an underlying disorder. There is no cure for clubbing of the nails, but the underlying cause can be treated.
How many pages does Clubbing - comics - have?
Clubbing - comics - has 176 pages.
What is science clubbing igniting and innovating?
science clubbing is the method which is good
What is Science Clubbing Optimized Igniting Innovating?
What is science clubbing: igniting and innovating?
What does this mean on examination there was no evidence of any clubbing and his respiratory examination was unremarkable?
This means that during the examination, the individual did not exhibit clubbing (swelling of the fingertips) which can be a sign of certain medical conditions. Additionally, the respiratory examination did not reveal any abnormal findings, suggesting that the individual's respiratory system appeared normal.
When was The Seal Cub Clubbing Club created?
The Seal Cub Clubbing Club was created in 2003.
