Citations should be made in the following way: Authors. Title. Eur Respir J 2016; 48: Suppl. 60, abstract number.
Citations should be made in the following way: Authors. Title. Eur Respir J 2016; 48: Suppl. 60, abstract number.
Complications and comorbidities in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Symposium Chairs: Christian M. Kähler (Wangen im Allgäu, Germany), Athol Wells (London, United Kingdom)
Aims: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease of unknown aetiology that associates with high mortality. The treatment options are limited. The two most common comorbidities that associate with IPF are emphysema and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Both worsen the prognosis of IPF. The prevalence of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) may be as high as 35% (Cottin 2013). PH in IPF has not been extensively studied but its reported incidence ranges from 32% to 84% (Lettieri et al., 2006 and Nadrous et al., 2005). These comorbidites in IPF are a major challenge for both physicians and scientists. The treatment options are limited, largely because of the lack of understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Moreover, clinical guidelines that recommend how to treat these comorbidities in IPF are lacking. A session where the perspectives of scientists and physicians on comorbidities in IPF can be discussed has not been organised previously. We hope that the present session will further our understanding of the pathogenetic pathways that underlie the deleterious effects of comorbidities in IPF and will help to optimise the management of patients with IPF and comorbidities.