Ikeda K, et al. – The current study was expected to explore whether baseline parameters can be predictors of disease progression and prognosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treated with pirfenidone. It was observed that the serum surfactant protein (SP)–D level was a predictor of disease progression and prognosis in patients with IPF treated with pirfenidone. This investigation illustrates the relative usefulness of other clinical parameters at baseline in estimating the prognosis of patients with IPF who are candidates for pirfenidone therapy.

Methods

• Between December 2008 and November 2014, the authors retrospectively investigated patients with IPF who began treatment with pirfenidone at the Sapporo Medical University Hospital.
• Patients treated with pirfenidone for ≥6 months were enlisted in this examination and were observed until November 2015.
• They explored the relationship of clinical characteristics, pulmonary function test results, and blood examination results at the start of pirfenidone with the outcome of patients.
• 60 patients were incorporated into this examination.

Results

• In multivariate logistic regression analysis, % predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and  serum SP-D levels were predictors of a ≥10% decrease in FVC in the initial 12 months.
• In the Cox proportional hazards model, these 2 factors anticipated progression-free survival.
• The results of this study showed that pack-years, % predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, and SP-D levels anticipated overall survival.