Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary Fibrosis

    * Introduction
    * Clinical
    * Diagnosis
    * Treatment
    * Evolution
Pulmonary fibrosis is an irreversible structural change lung parenchyma, which sclerozeaza due to excess production of connective tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis occurs in the terminal phase of various diseases of the lungs and is mainly manifested by progressive dyspnea. Prognosis is variable, with a life expectancy of a few years or indefinitely.
Diagnosing pulmonary fibrosis based on clinical examination, lung function and assessment by imaging. Correct diagnosis may be made only with histolopatologice analysis (biopsy). For pulmoanre fibrosis treatment is given primarily corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
Definition
Pulmonary fibrosis affects the structure of lung tissue (interstitium) and hence is designated by the name "interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. It occurs due to excessive production of connective tissue. This process is irreversible.
Negatively affect lung tissue scarring of the lungs and expansive volumes of gas involved in respiration, the disruption of gas exchange and ventilation. Consequent impairment of pulmonary circulation deteriorates with time, cardiac function.
Pulmonary fibrosis is the end stage of interstitial lung diseases over 200 chronic-inflammatory lung tissue. This category includes both primary lung disease and multiorgan deficiency with pulmonary involvement.
Etiology
Pulmonary fibrosis causes are multiple, but underlying all is the uncontrolled production of collagen. Collagen is the protein found in the greatest quantity in human body. It is based on the structure and the connective tissue support. Its essential characteristic is very high coefficient of elasticity. Collagen is found in virtually all human body and is produced in certain connective tissue cells (eg in fibrocite) under the action of certain enzymes. In the case of pulmonary fibrosis increases, for reasons unknown, lysine-hydroxylase enzyme activity.
Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by chronic inflammatory processes, vascular disorders or degenerative processes (eg aging). In 50% of cases is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, that may determine why not emerged. The remaining 50% are determined on one of the following causes:
Infections: viruses, bacteria (eg Pneumocystis carinii, Klebsielle), fungi and parasites (ascarizi, schistostomiaza) Systemic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, collagen diseases, vascular diseases, sarcoidosis; Contaminants (pollution): both inhaled (smoking, as aerosol hair sprays, powders) and non-inhalation (medicinal, ionization); Acute pulmonary insufficiency; Blood stasis disease (heart failure);
Depending on the basic etiology, pulmonary fibrosis can be classified as: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Pulmonary fibrosis caused by diffuse alveolar damage; Pulmonary fibrosis caused by systemic diseases (collagen);
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
A condition is designated as idiopathic, when it develops spontaneously without apparent cause. Collagenosis systemic diseases and are characterized by changes in collagen production occurring mainly in the body. The most commonly affected tissues with a high content of collagen: skin, muscles or joints. The disease can spread to the lung tissue. In the case of systemic lupus erythematosus, the risk is 60% pulmonary fibrosis, scleroderma and in case of 50%. Other collagen, but less often leading to pulmonary fibrosis, Sharp syndrome, Sjoegren syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis.
Pulmonary fibrosis caused by a defect in diffuse alveolar
Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by diffuse alveolar defect. Alveoli are the smallest functional unit at which gas exchange takes place through a very thin membrane. They can be damaged by the action of the following factors: Pathogens: viruses, bacteria; Allergic Reactions: Farmer pneumonia; Steam and poisonous gases; Inorganic powders such as quartz crystals (silicosis) and asbestos fibers (asbestosis). Chemotherapy, chemotherapy, drugs generally used in the treatment of malignancies (eg, bleomycin); Ionization; Uremia (toxic accumulation of blood in case of kidney failure); Cardiac arrest, to stop blood flow to the pulmonary capillaries;