cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis


id·i·o·path·ic pul·mo·nar·y fi·bro·sis (IPF),

[MIM*178500] an acute to chronic inflammatory process or interstitial fibrosis of the lung of unknown etiology. seen in association with collagen-vascular diseases. Synonym(s): chronic fibrosing alveolitis, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, fibrosing alveolitis, Hamman-Rich syndrome, idiopathic interstitial fibrosis

id·i·o·path·ic pul·mo·nar·y fi·bro·sis

(IPF) (id'ē-ō-path'ik pul'mŏ-nar-ē fī-brō'sis) Subacute form also called Hamman-Rich syndrome (q.v.); an acute to chronic inflammatory process of the lungs, the healing stage of diffuse alveolar damage or acute interstitial pneumonia, either idiopathic or associated with collagen-vascular diseases.
Synonym(s): cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis.

cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis

A progressive lung disease involving thickening and fibrosis of the walls of the ALVEOLI and large mononuclear cells in the alveolar spaces. As the name implies, the cause is unknown but the condition is believed to be the end stage of a disorder brought about by one of a range of possible factors including exposure to various occupational dusts or volatile solvents, virus infections or genetic influences.