Respiratory investigation
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Respiratory investigation · Sep 2015
Observational StudyAll-case post-marketing surveillance of 1371 patients treated with pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrotic lung disease with a median survival of 2-5 years and limited treatment options. In 2008, pirfenidone became the first drug to be approved for IPF treatment in Japan. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of pirfenidone for IPF treatment in a clinical setting. ⋯ This post-marketing surveillance in Japan showed that pirfenidone was generally well tolerated in patients with IPF, including those with severe lung function impairment.
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Respiratory investigation · Sep 2015
Antigen avoidance tests for diagnosis of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is induced by the inhalation of specific antigens. Patients with chronic HP may be able to improve their prognosis by avoiding these antigens. Chronic HP is often difficult to distinguish from idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). ⋯ It was difficult to diagnose chronic HP based solely on 2-week antigen avoidance tests; however, improved clinical parameters among patients supported the diagnosis of HP.