2017 Volume 8 Issue 2 Pages 118-121
An epidemiologic study on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Japan (Hokkaido study) have reported that the median survival time of patients with IPF after diagnosis was 35 months and the most common cause (40%) of death was acute exacerbation. The prognosis of IPF is extremely poor and no effective treatment for acute exacerbation has been established. Recent clinical studies have suggested the beneficial effects of direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX-DHP) on oxygenation and prognosis in IPF patients with acute exacerbation. PMX-DHP has been approved for the advanced medical treatment of acute exacerbation of IPF in Japan. Exploratory research on the safety and efficacy of PMX-DHP for the treatment of acute exacerbation of IPF is being conducted. From these results, PMX-DHP should be considered as a therapeutic option for acute exacerbation of IPF.
