History and exposures
Medicines, occupational or environmental exposures, autoimmune symptoms, and family history help exclude alternative causes.
[ A GUIDE FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES ]
Idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis.
A structured path to understand IPF, why each test matters, how change is followed, and which questions are worth taking to the next appointment.
WHAT IT IS
A specific form of chronic fibrotic interstitial lung disease
In IPF, scar tissue develops in the lungs without an identified cause. It is not diagnosed from one symptom or one value: history, HRCT, physiology, exclusion of alternative causes, and often multidisciplinary discussion are brought together.
[ DIAGNOSTIC PATHWAY ]
From suspicion to the complete picture.
Chest HRCT
Shows the pattern and distribution of fibrosis. It is interpreted with the wider clinical picture rather than alone.
FVC and DLCO
FVC describes exhaled volume and DLCO gas-transfer capacity. Their trajectory is usually more informative than one isolated measurement.
6MWT and oximetry
Describe functional capacity, symptoms, and possible exertional desaturation. They do not replace clinical assessment.
[ TREATMENT AND SUPPORT ]
Care is more than one medicine.
Disease-modifying treatment
Treatment is individualised around indication, tolerability, interactions, and access. EU options include pirfenidone, nintedanib and, since 2026, nerandomilast; availability and reimbursement in Greece must be confirmed with the clinical team.
Oxygen when indicated
Prescription is based on measurements at rest, during sleep, or exertion. Patients should not change flow without clinical instruction.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Individualised exercise, education, and support can improve endurance, breathlessness, and daily function.
The whole person
Nutrition, sleep, psychological health, vaccination, comorbidity care, planning, and family support belong in the same pathway.
[ DAILY LIFE ]
What is useful to follow in daily life
- 01Breathlessness and cough compared with your own usual state
- 02Ability to dress, wash, walk, and leave home
- 03Oximetry only when measured correctly and used within an agreed plan
- 04Treatment use and adverse effects
- 05Sleep, fatigue, appetite, weight, and emotional burden
WHEN TO SEEK URGENT HELP
Sudden severe breathlessness, chest pain, blue lips, fainting, confusion, or coughing blood need immediate local medical assessment. Do not wait for an online-form response.
[ PREPARE YOUR VISIT ]
Questions for the next appointment
- 1
Which findings support the diagnosis, and which alternatives were excluded?
- 2
How are FVC, DLCO, 6MWT, and oxygen needs changing over time?
- 3
What is the goal of my treatment and which tolerability signals are we monitoring?
- 4
Should I be assessed for rehabilitation, oxygen, a clinical trial, or transplantation?
- 5
Which symptom change should I report immediately?
[ SOURCES AND SCIENTIFIC BASIS ]
Last scientific review: 30 August 2026. Educational content—not a diagnosis or individual medical instruction.