Evaluation of CPET use in IPF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) as a prognostic tool in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
IRAS ID
223450
Contact name
Shaney Barratt
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Personalised medicine is a medical approach that emphasises the customisation of healthcare, with all decisions and practices being tailored to individual patients1. \n\nIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing condition of the lungs with a median survival of 2-3 years from diagnosis2. There is however vast heterogeneity in terms of presenting features, severity, disease course and thus individual survival which leads to difficulties for patients and clinicians in terms of end of life discussions, treatment choices and conduct of clinical trials. \nClinicians would benefit from tools that would help to better predict clinical progression or track response to therapy. Several prognostic tools have been used in IPF with variable success3. Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) has been proposed as potentially effective tool for the early detection of gas exchange abnormalities but its prognostic value remains uncertain4. There is limited data available on the use of CPET as a predictive tool for disease progression in the setting of IPF, with a weak correlation between CPET and mortality reported in small cohorts5,6. The predictive value of CPET in determining future disease progression and its relationship with Quality of Life (QoL) measurements, lung physiology and 6-minute walk testing (6MWT) remains uncertain. \nBiological markers or biomarkers also have the potential to help discriminate between health and disease. The potential role of biomarkers in a personalised medical approach for IPF remains to be established but is an attractive possibility7. They are urgently needed in IPF as a tool for differential diagnosis, predictor of the progression of the disease and treatment response8. Serum KL-6 levels appear to be elevated in IPF, with a possible correlation with an increased risk of IPF-associated mortality 9,10. Our own group has also shown that plasma levels of VEGF-A165b are increased in IPF patients that show disease progression after one year’s follow up11. Other potential biomarkers for IPF disease severity include serum SP-A, SP-D12 and plasma matrix metalloproteinases13.\n\nWe aim to investigate predictive use of CPET in determining future disease progression in IPF and its relationship with existing proposed biomarkers, QOL measures, lung physiology and 6MWT. \n
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0227
Date of REC Opinion
14 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion