Acute Exacerbations in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Fernando J. Martinez
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2006)

Letters7 February 2006Acute Exacerbations in Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisFernando J. Martinez, MD, MSFernando J. Martinez, MD, MSFrom the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-144-3-200602070-00015 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Drs. Crowley, Kelly, and Egan raise several important points regarding our recent report that identified a high incidence of rapidly progressive pulmonary disease in the placebo group of a multicenter trial of interferon-γ1b in patients with IPF. The identification of patients who succumbed to a rapid, fatal deterioration versus those who did not provides important, clinically relevant information.Examination of baseline characteristics of patients who died abruptly of IPF-related causes and those of patients who died following an IPF-related subacute deterioration revealed a similar baseline mean predicted FVC (64% [SD, 12%] vs. 60% [SD, 12%]; P = 0.29) and ...References1. Lynch DA, Godwin DJ, Safrin S, Starko KM, Hormel P, Brown KK, et al. High-resolution computed tomography in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: diagnosis and prognosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005;172:488-93. [PMID: 15894598] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Martinez FJ, Bradford WZ, Safrin S, Starko KM, Brown KK. Rates and characteristics of death in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Chest. 2003;124:117S. Google Scholar3. Ziesche R, Hofbauer E, Wittmann K, Petkov V, Block LH. A preliminary study of long-term treatment with interferon gamma-1b and low-dose prednisolone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:1264-9. [PMID: 10528036] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Raghu G, Brown KK, Bradford WZ, Starko K, Noble PW, Schwartz DA, et al. A placebo-controlled trial of interferon gamma-1b in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:125-33. [PMID: 14711911] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Loutit JS, Safrin S, Suzuki S, Bradford WZ. Serious adverse events (SAEs) of the respiratory tract in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treated with interferon gamma-1b (IFN-gamma 1b) in three trials. Eur Respir J. 2005;26:336s. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.Disclosures: Consultancies: F.J. Martinez (InterMune, Inc.). PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Clinical Course of Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Fernando J. Martinez , Sharon Safrin , Derek Weycker , Karen M. Starko , Williamson Z. Bradford , Talmadge E. King Jr , Kevin R. Flaherty , David A. Schwartz , Paul W. Noble , Ganesh Raghu , Kevin K. Brown , and The Clinical Course of Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Fernando J. Martinez , Sharon Safrin , Derek Weycker , Karen M. Starko , Williamson Z. Bradford , Talmadge E. King Jr , Kevin R. Flaherty , David A. Schwartz , Paul W. Noble , Ganesh Raghu , Kevin K. Brown , and Acute Exacerbations in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Seamus P. Crowley , Peter Kelly , and Jim J. Egan Metrics 7 February 2006Volume 144, Issue 3Page: 218-219KeywordsAdverse eventsDyspneaHospitalizationsInterstitial lung diseasesPulmonary diseasesQuestionnairesRespiratory system procedures ePublished: 7 February 2006 Issue Published: 7 February 2006 CopyrightCopyright © 2006 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...