13. Exacerbaciones agudas en pacientes con fibrosis pulmonar idiopática

Abstract

Classically we understand as an exacerbation of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) to a clinically significant respiratory deterioration, without obvious cause. At present, the concept of “acute triggered exacerbations” is preferred to refer to those that are generated in the context of infection, aspiration, drug toxicity, pulmonary thromboembolism, heart failure or after invasive procedures. While the term “idiopathic acute exacerbations” is reserved for those in which we do not find a trigger. The prognosis is ominous and the mortality is high, with figures that fluctuate between 50 to 90% depending on the need for ventilatory support. Many times an acute exacerbation can be the final event of a patient with IPF. The treatment is not entirely clear, there is no robust evidence of the benefit of therapies, historically corticosteroids have been used as standard therapy, however current evidence questions the benefits of such a treatment.