Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Patient Condition
The patient visited the hospital for 18 months due to shortness of breath gradually worsening after exercise and had a previous history of smoking (30 pack-years). HRCT showed typical UIP findings: honeycomb lungs dominated by the base of both lungs and traction bronchiectasis. Lung function: FVC 52% predicted, DLCO 35% predicted. 6MWD 280m, mMRC score 3. IPF was diagnosed after multidisciplinary discussions.
Treatment Timeline
| Phase | Details | Date |
|---|---|---|
| multidisciplinary diagnosis | ||
| treatment initiation | ||
| Treatment monitoring (months 1-12) | ||
| Long-term maintenance (months 13-24) |
Treatment Outcome
| before | FVC accounted for 52% of predicted value, DLCO accounted for 35% of predicted value, 6MWD 280m, mMRC score 3 |
|---|---|
| after | After 24 months of treatment, FVC accounted for 46% of the predicted value (annual decline rate of approximately 3%), DLCO accounted for 29% of the predicted value, 6MWD was 290m, and mMRC score was 3. Lung rehabilitation training improves exercise tolerance |
| highlight | 24-month treatment with nintedanib delayed the decline in FVC, improved 6MWD by 10m after combined lung rehabilitation training, and reduced the frequency of acute exacerbations |