A Blood Test for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Mechanisms of IPF. Image source: PLoS Medicine, Creative Commons license.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease of unknown aetiology and uncertain pathogenesis, and there are no effective therapies. The average survival is less than 3 years from the time of diagnosis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases. Elevation of plasma matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1 and MMP7) may help to confirm a diagnosis of IPF and probably non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and help to distinguish these diseases from hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), sarcoidosis, and perhaps other fibrotic lung diseases.

Plasma concentrations of MMP7 may be useful in following disease progression and even in facilitating early diagnosis. Source: PLoS Medicine, Creative Commons license.


Mind map of Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD). Read more: Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD). Allergy Cases.

References:
A Blood Test for Lung Fibrosis. Peter J. Barnes. PLoS Medicine, 04/2008.
Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD). Allergy Cases.