WVU Medicine Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine is shining a light on the more than 250,000 Americans who are affected by pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive, irreversible scarring of the lungs for which there is no cure.

According to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), “there are more than 200 types of interstitial lung diseases (ILD), which are characterized by varied amounts of inflammation, scarring, or both that damage the ability of the lung to absorb oxygen from the air. Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) means scarring of the lung and can be seen in many types of ILD.”

Several things can cause PF and ILD, including the use of certain medications, radiation to the chest, autoimmune diseases, and environmental and occupational exposures, the latter of which is the most common cause in West Virginia due to its large coal mining industry. One of the most common forms of PF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has no known cause and can take the lives of those who suffer from it within three-to-five years of diagnosis.

Symptoms of PF include shortness of breath; dry, hacking cough; fatigue and weakness; and discomfort in the chest. Current treatments include supplemental oxygen; pulmonary rehabilitation; medication; and lung transplant.

The PFF reports that “the good news for people living with PF is that there are treatments designed to specifically manage the symptoms of the disease and researchers are studying new ways to halt its progression.”

The experts at WVU Medicine specialize in identifying and treating ILDs. Their efforts have helped to develop a WVU Medicine system wide cohort of IPF patients that allows for the study of unique characteristics in these patients in terms of comorbidity burden, utilization of resources, and guiding future trials for therapeutics. They have also developed cohorts of rare lung disorders, including lung cancer prevalence in ILD and end-of-life care in progressive ILD diseases.

They are currently participating in an investigator-initiated trial in close collaboration with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health that is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of anti-fibrotic drugs in coal workers with pneumoconiosis (black lung disease).

“Pulmonary fibrosis remains a devastating condition, and unfortunately, West Virginia not only has a high prevalence but also faces delayed diagnoses, leading to poorer outcomes,” Sunil Sharma, M.D., M.B.A., N. Leroy Lapp Professor and Chief of the Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, said. “Through our dedicated ILD Program at WVU Medicine, we are committed to raising awareness, ensuring early diagnosis, and providing timely treatment. Together, let’s make a difference in the fight against pulmonary fibrosis.”

In recognition of the PFF’s annual #BlueUp4PF campaign, the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Innovation Center will light up blue on the evenings of Sept. 15-20.

For more information on the WVU Medicine Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, click here.