Fibrosis In Disease

Fibroproliferative diseases are a broad spectrum of entities from organ-specific involvement (e.g., pulmonary, heart, liver, and kidney fibrosis) to multi-system diseases such as systemic sclerosis and sclerodermatous graft vs. host disease. These diseases also encompass pathophysiologies not readily recognizably related, such as macular degeneration and cancer metastasis. Fibroproliferative diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and can affect all tissues and organ systems. Remarkable progress in elucidating the pathogenesis of these common diseases with fibrotic components, including the critical roles of myofibroblasts and the molecular mechanisms driving the transcriptional activation involved in the induction of fibrosis. As the importance of these processes is realized in the long-term recovery and treatment of diseases, effective anti-fibrotic therapies targeting the underlying ongoing disease processes are lacking. The complexity of discovering and applying therapies to fibroproliferative disease may be due to the diversity of the systems the pathogenesis of disease itself involves. By nature, fibroproliferative diseases are interdisciplinary, involving multiple cell types (organ-specific epithelial cells), immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Bone marrow, cytokines, and organ-specific pathologies further speckle both the clinical and scientific disciplines in such a way that communication is often limited to the clinical or scientific tribes we live in, despite the greatest access to information known to man available today. Therefore, the primary focus of this text is to bring together authors from a diversity of both clinical, scientific, and therapeutic backgrounds for readers to more fully appreciate that fantastic platform that is available to build upon to lessen the isolation of the clinical and scientific disciplines. With advances in the discovery of pre-clinical therapeutic targets (at least 20+ to date) involving TGF-beta (and other cytokines), transcription factors, and downstream kinases, it’s important to both recognize the broader impact and potential opportunities that exist even today. This book will serve as a state-of-the-art resource for physicians and translational medical researchers alike who are interested in the rapidly evolving field of fibroproliferative diseases. The book will provide new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of classic fibrotic pathophysiologic processes like myocardial infarction, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, wound healing, and systemic sclerosis. It will also highlight the many new areas of therapeutic investigation currently underway. Lastly, we will touch upon newly emerging fields investigating the role of fibrosis in macular degeneration and cancer metastasis. The chapters will be written by established experts in their fields, including clinicians (cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, pathologists, and general practitioners) and translational biomedical researchers in a wide range of disciplines. However, the material will certainly have a broader audience including medical residents, fellows, and general practitioners as well as M.D. or Ph.D. post-doctoral research fellows. While comprehensive, we'll attempt to present the material in a manner that simplifies the complex pathophysiologic mechanisms that underlie common fibroproliferative diseases while making it appealing to a broad audience.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide delivers a concise review of our current understanding of disease pathogenesis and provides current evidence in the medical literature regarding its diagnosis and management. Each chapter includes key points and a summary aiming to update clinicians about various issues concerning the diagnosis and management of IPF. In addition to outlining the current state of knowledge, each chapter also provides a summary of ongoing research and identifies the needs for future research in the field. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide is an important new text that provides its readers with a better understanding of the pathobiology and natural history of IPF as it continues to evolve.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a steadily progressive and ultimately fatal disease of unknown origin. Recent years have seen advances in our understanding of IPF and a number of guidelines have been published. But many questions remain unanswered, particularly surrounding probable versus definite IPF. This Monograph aims to discuss the latest achievements in IPF, and covers key diagnostic issues, staging of the disease, complications and comorbidities, treatment, unmet patient needs and perspectives for the future. This book will be of interest to all clinicians and researchers in this area.

This clinically focused pocket guide offers a concise yet complete overview of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, covering the most recent information on aspects such as pathophysiology, management, treatment, and clinical trials. The text is easily accessible and offers pulmonologists and other health care professionals with an excellent quick reference tool. Full color images and figures enhance and summarize key aspects of the text. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a condition that affects the alveoli and leads to serious lung damage, and the idiopathic nature of this disease means that the origin or cause is unknown. This disease is relatively rare, affecting 3 in 10,000 people, but it is becoming more common. Physicians should be aware of the early stages and symptoms of this disease so management strategies can be implemented quickly, and the best treatment can be administered.

A discussion of the epidemiology, clinical features, and differential diagnoses of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Key topics include the role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, and current treatment options, including medical therapy and lung transplantation.

This open access book focuses on diagnostic and interventional imaging of the chest, breast, heart, and vessels. It consists of a remarkable collection of contributions authored by internationally respected experts, featuring the most recent diagnostic developments and technological advances with a highly didactical approach. The chapters are disease-oriented and cover all the relevant imaging modalities, including standard radiography, CT, nuclear medicine with PET, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as imaging-guided interventions. As such, it presents a comprehensive review of current knowledge on imaging of the heart and chest, as well as thoracic interventions and a selection of "hot topics". The book is intended for radiologists, however, it is also of interest to clinicians in oncology, cardiology, and pulmonology.

Designed with the practicing clinician in mind, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis provides a succinct, easy-to-digest overview of this challenging condition in which the cause of thickening lung tissue is unknown. This concise resource by Drs. Kevin K. Brown and Jeff Swigris provides essential information for the physician who sees pulmonary fibrosis patients, including epidemiology, genetics and biomarkers, pathology, diagnosis, disease monitoring, and therapeutics intended to improve the patient’s lifespan and quality of life.