The effects of pirfenidone in patients with an acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia.

Abstract

The prognosis of patients with an acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia (AE-IP) is poor. Pirfenidone (PFD) reduces the disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The purpose of this study was evaluating whether the administration of PFD improved the outcomes of AE-IP. We conducted a retrospective study of 31 patients with AE-IP who did not recover between 7 and 14days after an initial treatment. Fourteen patients received PFD within 2weeks (PFD group) of the AE, while 17 patients were treated without PFD (non-PFD group). The patients' clinical data and computed tomography (CT) scores were analyzed. The survival rate in the PFD group was not significantly different from non-PFD group at 30 (78.6% vs 64.7%, P=.46) and 90days (64.3% vs 52.9%, P=.72). The white blood cell counts in the PFD group were significantly lower on PFD day 14 than on PFD days 1 and 7. The C-reactive protein levels in the PFD group were also significantly lower on PFD day 7 than on PFD day 1. There were no significant differences regarding the changes of the CT scores. PFD may reduce the inflammation in AE-IP patients undergoing corticosteroid treatment.