Table 3. Summary of evidenced-based treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT guidelines [2]New evidence 2012
AnticoagulationWeak NoStrong No (ACE) [8, 9]
NAC monotherapyWeak NoWeak No [2, 11]
Prednisone/azathioprine/NACWeak NoStrong No (PANTHER) [9, 13]
PirfenidoneWeak NoWeak Yes [22]
(German guidelines [9])
  • For definitions of Weak No, Strong No and Weak Yes refer to [2]. ATS: American Thoracic Society; ERS: European Respiratory Society; JRS: Japanese Respiratory Society; ALAT: Latin American Thoracic Association; NAC: N-acetylcysteine; ACE: angiotensin converting enzyme; PANTHER: Prednisone, Azathioprine, and N-Acetylcysteine: A Study That Evaluates Response in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.