How is Pulmonary Fibrosis treated?
Physicians generally follow standards of care intended to improve symptoms and hopefully slow the progression of the disease. In 2001, a panel of experts sponsored by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society recommended that if therapy was given, it should consist of a trial of corticosteroids and an immunosuppressive agent (e.g. azathioprine or cyclophosphamide). Recent evidence has suggested that adding a third therapy called N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to this regimen may be beneficial. It is important to recognize, however, that there are no definitive studies showing that this treatment approach is effective, and there is no consensus regarding the use of this approach in the pulmonary community. For a complete listing of active clinical trials for Pulmonary Fibrosis, please visit www.coalitionforpf.org. Importantly, these therapies can cause side effects—some minor and some more serious. The potential risks and benefits of therapy should be discussed with you
