Glossary This glossary may be useful to you as you learn more about IPF. Alveoli Very small air sacs found in the lungs. Antifibrotic/antifibrogenic agents Experimental medications used to suppress the scarring process associated with IPF. Antioxidants Experimental medications that may prevent or reverse lung tissue damage caused by IPF. Azathioprine A medication commonly prescribed for IPF patients that can suppress the activity of the immune system and reduce inflammation. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) A diagnostic technique in which fluid is instilled into the lungs and removed for examination. Clubbing A buildup of tissue in the fingertips (or sometimes the toes). Clubbing is a sign of advanced IPF. Click here to see what clubbing looks like. Collagen Proteins found in tendons, bones, and connective tissue. Scar tissue found in the lungs of patients with IPF also contains collagen. Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) or high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) A type of x-ray for which a computer is used to construct a three-dimensional image from a series of cross-sectional images. The procedure generates multiple pictures of your lungs in layers (slices) from the top (at your shoulders) to the bottom (just above your waist). This test requires that you lie on a table while the pictures are taken, holding your breath and letting it out as instructed. Corticosteroids Medications used to suppress the activity of the immune system and reduce inflammation. The most commonly prescribed corticosteroid is prednisone. Cyclophosphamide A medication commonly prescribed for IPF patients that can suppress the activity of the immune system and reduce inflammation. Cytokines Molecules produced by the immune system. A cytokine imbalance may be the cause of IPF. Dyspnea Shortness of breath or labored breathing, usually associated with physical exertion. Epidemiology The incidence, distribution, and control of a disease in a population. Etiology The cause(s) of a disease. Familial Tending to occur in more members of a family than would be expected by chance alone. Fibrosis An abnormal scarring of body tissue. Histopathology Tissue changes (e.g., scarring of the lungs) that accompany a disease and are recognized by microscopic examination. Hypertension High blood pressure. Hypoxemia A lack of oxygen in the blood. Hypoxia A lack of oxygen in the tissues of the body. Idiopathic Arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) A disease characterized by progressive scarring (fibrosis) and deterioration of the lungs. Immune System info   Interferon gamma-1b A regulatory cytokine that has antifibrotic and antifibrogenic effects and may regulate macrophage, fibroblast, and mast cell function; inhibit a variety of neutrophil-derived cytokines; and modify the balance of Th1 and Th2 cells in the lung. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) A general term for the approximately 200 disorders characterized by inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs' interstitium. IPF is an example of an interstitial lung disease. Interstitium The tissue layers between the lungs' air sacs (alveoli) and blood vessels. Lung biopsy A procedure in which a tissue sample is obtained through a flexible tube or by means of a small surgical incision between the ribs. Lung transplant Replacement of a lung or lungs with donor organ(s). Monoclonal antibodies Experimental medications for the treatment of IPF. They may inhibit "bad" cytokines. Naprosyn Pathogenesis The mode of origin or development of a disease. Pathology The abnormalities that characterize a particular disease. Phase I trial The first phase of drug testing in humans. It usually involves 20 to 100 subjects and focuses on safety. Phase II trial The second phase of drug testing in humans. It involves up to several hundred patients, lasts as long as two years, and focuses on safety and effectiveness. Phase III trial The third phase of drug testing in humans. It involves several hundred to several thousand patients, often lasts several years, and focuses on safety, dosage, and effectiveness. Prednisone The most commonly prescribed therapy for IPF. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can suppress the activity of the immune system and reduce inflammation. Prognosis The prospect for survival and recovery from a disease. Pulmonary Having to do with the lungs. Pulmonary embolism A blood clot in the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis Thickening and scarring of the lungs, specifically the pulmonary interstitium. Pulmonary hypertension High blood pressure in the lungs. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) A condition indicated by specific changes in the lung tissue. Finding UIP in a lung biopsy strongly points to a diagnosis of IPF (although other criteria must be met). Uveitis Vitiligo