Evaluation of a novel algorithm for the diagnosis of IPF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of a novel algorithm for the multidisciplinary diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
IRAS ID
204676
Contact name
Athol Wells
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Brompton Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
The current diagnostic approach to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is based on international guidelines published in 2011. Following multidisciplinary evaluation, patients are classified as having ‘definite’ or ‘non-definite’ disease. For patients with non-definite disease, the guidelines state that a surgical lung biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis. In clinical practice however, many patients are unable to have this procedure. Hence many patients with suspected IPF are unable to receive a definitive diagnosis of IPF using the current guideline approach. This is particularly significant as there are now targeted therapies available to treat IPF. Therefore, the current guidelines prevent a number of patients with suspected IPF from accessing potentially life-prolonging therapy.
In order to overcome these difficulties, an expert ERS subcommittee have drafted a new guideline document and set of diagnostic algorithms. A key element to this new diagnostic approach is the concept of a ‘working multidisciplinary diagnosis’ of IPF for treatment purposes. In addition to using available radiological data, this algorithm incorporates all available clinical data (e.g. patient characteristics, bronchoalveolar lavage results) in order to facilitate a logical and appropriate diagnosis of IPF in non-definite cases.
This study will evaluate this new diagnostic approach. Demographic, clinical and radiological data will be retrospectively collected from patients with fibrotic lung disease. Two teams of suitably qualified clinicians and radiologists will retrospectively analyse this data and formulate diagnoses using the 2011 and novel diagnostic algorithms. The number of patients diagnosed with IPF using both diagnostic approaches will be compared. Other parameters (e.g. patient survival and the contribution of specific diagnostic tests such as bronchoalveolar lavage) will also be analysed. The authors of this study hope that the outcomes of the study will facilitate the incorporation of this diagnostic approach into routine clinical practice, thereby improving the diagnostic process for many effected patients.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
16/WA/0233
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion