TY - JOUR T1 - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: recent milestones in disease management JF - European Respiratory Review JO - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW SP - 140 LP - 140 DO - 10.1183/09059180.00000712 VL - 21 IS - 124 AU - Ulrich Costabel Y1 - 2012/06/01 UR - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/21/124/140.abstract N2 - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause that is limited to the lungs [1]. The disease is inevitably fatal, with an estimated median survival of 2–5 yrs following diagnosis; the mortality rate in IPF is higher than mortality rates associated with a number of malignancies [2]. Historically, there were no pharmacological treatments approved in Europe for managing patients with IPF and there was a clear need for treatments, which may modify the disease course and help preserve lung function.This is now an exciting time for physicians, investigators and patients, as there is … ER -