Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition that causes lung scarring and stiffness. It develops when the alveoli, tiny air sacs that transfer oxygen to the blood, become damaged and inflamed. Body tries to heal the damage with scars, but these scars collapse the alveoli and make the lungs less elastic. Changes in the lungs can also increase the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. This condition, called pulmonary hypertension, makes the heart work harder and it may fail.

Statistical analysis on pulmonary fibrosis in Netherlands was resulted as that data were retrospectively collected from September 1989 until July 2011 of all IPF patients registered for LTX in the Netherlands. In total, 98 IPF patients were listed for LTX. During the waiting list period, 30 % of the patients died. Mean pulmonary artery pressure, 6-min walking distance, and the use of supplemental oxygen were significant predictors of mortality on the waiting list.