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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffFactors that make you more susceptible to pulmonary fibrosis include:
- Age. Although pulmonary fibrosis has been diagnosed in children and infants, the disorder is much more likely to affect middle-aged and older adults.
- Your sex. In general, men are more likely to have pulmonary fibrosis than women are.
- Occupational and environmental toxins. You have an increased risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis if you work in mining, farming or construction or you're exposed to pollutants known to damage your lungs.
- Radiation and chemotherapy. Having radiation treatments to your chest or using certain chemotherapy drugs makes you more susceptible to pulmonary fibrosis.
Risk factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Even though the causes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis aren't known, researchers have identified certain factors that seem to increase your risk:
- Smoking. Far more smokers and former smokers develop idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis than do people who have never smoked.
- Genetic factors. A rare type of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis runs in families. Researchers haven't yet identified the specific genes involved, but they have discovered genetic changes in proteins in the airways and air sacs of people with other types of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Viruses. Many people report developing symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis after a viral illness, especially one caused by a herpes virus such as Epstein-Barr, the same virus that causes mononucleosis. As a result, researchers are investigating the role viruses might play in lung disease.
References
- Garantziotis S, et al. Serum inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor and matrix hyaluronan promote angiogenesis in fibrotic lung injury. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2008;178:939.
- Interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=4294229&ct=3052333. Accessed Jan. 13, 2008.
- King TE. Clinical advances in the diagnosis and therapy of the interstitial lung diseases. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2005;172:26.
- What are the signs and symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ipf/ipf_signsandsymptoms.html. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
- How is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treated? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ipf/ipf_treatments.html, Accessed Jan, 13, 2009.
- McKay S, et al. Patient information handbook. Chicago, Ill.: American Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation; 2004. http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/patient.pdf. Accessed Jan 13, 2009.
- What causes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ipf/ipf_causes.html. Accessed Jan. 14, 2009.
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Diagnosis and treatment: International consensus statement. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2000;161:646.
