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Is Fibrosis Of Lungs Curable?

Posted on Thu, 3 Dec 2015

Question: Is fibrosis of lungs curable ?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If it is IPF then it is not curable.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Majority of lung fibrosis is idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
It is incurable.
It actually progressive disease.
In early stages of fibrosis, perfinodone is the only US FDA approved drug that can halt the progression of fibrosis.
But in late stages of fibrosis, no treatment is available.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)

The hospital said fibrosis in lungs which they think resulted from rheumatoid arthritis . But there r no symotoms at all of the lungs like cough , breathing trouble.

There is just lots joint pains from arthritis

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
RA can cause lung fibrosis.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
RA can cause lung fibrosis as a Pulmonary complications.
This can be seen without symptoms especially in early stages.
So better to consult pulmonologist and discuss about this.
You should start following treatment.
1. Perfinodone (anti fibrotic)
2. N acetyl cysteine (NAC). It is mucolytic, expectorant and antioxidant.
3. Deep breathing exercises and chest physiotherapy.
4. Quit smoking if you are smoker.
Regular HRCT thorax every six monthly is needed.
Every six monthly PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) monitoring is needed.
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (59 minutes later)

Can i just ask that is prognosis poor with this?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Prognosis depends on PFT and HRCT report.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Prognosis in lung fibrosis depends on lung functions and involvement of lung tissue.
So for lung functions, you need to get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
For lung tissue involvement, you need to get done HRCT (high resolution CT) thorax.
Please let me know
1. Your HRCT thorax report
2. PFT done or not.
Please reply me above things, so that I can tell you prognosis.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (14 minutes later)

They have not done any of this yet. Yesterday all they said is xray of chest showed fibrosis on lungs

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Better to first get done HRCT thorax.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Chest x ray is not diagnostic for lung fibrosis.
You should first get done HRCT thorax for the diagnosis of lung fibrosis.
If HRCT is saying that fibrosis is present then only you are having lung fibrosis. If HRCT is normal then no need to worry for lung fibrosis.
This is the reason I am insisting on pulmonologist consultation first.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (58 minutes later)

I see . So chest xray does not detect fibrosis?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No, chest x ray can give only idea.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Actually, chest x ray is only screening tool. It can only give idea about fibrosis. It is not at all confirmatory test.
For confirmation, HRCT thorax is must.
Can you send me x ray image?
So that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar