Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis biomarkers: clinical utility and a way of understanding disease pathogenesis

摘要

Abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a typically fatal disease that remains incompletely understood despite intense study and the arrival of drugs that may alter the natural history of the disease. Rendering an accurate diagnosis and predicting prognosis remain challenging problems to clinicians. One potential solution to these clinical problems is the identification of IPF biomarkers, easily measured factors that can be employed to predict clinical behavior. Candidate biomarkers have been identified by research in the laboratory on potential culprit cells or genes that may contribute to the pathogenesis of IPF. In this review, we present the current data on a number of well-studied IPF biomarker candidates and their potential role in the pathogenesis of disease. We also establish a framework for evaluating utility of incorporating these IPF biomarkers into clinical practice.