What does pulmonary fibrosis mean?

  The term pulmonary fibrosis refers to the replacement of normal lung structures by a large number of fibroblasts, resulting in loss of normal respiratory function and respiratory failure.  Common medical terms: interstitial pneumonia, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibroplasia, cryptogenic pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, diffuse alveolitis, etc. Clinical manifestations: cough, often dry, accelerated breathing, shortness of breath with activity (increased progressive dyspnea); chest CT shows diffuse lesions in both lungs with hairy glass-like changes. Diffuse fibroplasia with honeycomb-like changes in both lower lungs near the pleura; pulmonary function shows restrictive ventilation dysfunction and diffusion dysfunction. Auscultation: Vecrol sounds can be heard in both lungs.  There is no effective drug. A small number of patients can be stable for a long time, while most of them progress slowly and some progress rapidly. Main treatment: oxygen, ventilator, rehabilitation exercises and lung transplantation.