New research reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine claims that a protein molecule seems to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease that is often fatal three to five years after diagnosis and affects nearly five million people worldwide.
Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases can cause pulmonary fibrosis, as can exposure to asbestos, certain toxic gases, and even radiation therapy to treat lung cancer. Treatment options are limited because once scarring occurs, it is permanent. Lung transplantation remains the only effective treatment, but it is usually reserved for advanced cases. The research was made possibly by National Institutes of Health grants P01-HL98050 and R01-GM094220, the Bernie Mac Foundation and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
Source: University of Illinois at Chicago via: http://www.biocompare.com/Life-Science-News/161074-Protein-Molecule-May-Improve-Survival-In-Deadly-Lung-Disease/
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