Open AccessAutoimmune symptoms in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: clinical significance
Author(s) -
Alhamad Esam Hamad,
Cal Joseph Galindo,
AlBoukai Ahmad Amer,
Shaik Shaffi Ahmed,
Omair Mohammed Ahmed
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.12224
Subject(s) - medicine , idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , hazard ratio , proportional hazards model , confidence interval , autoimmune disease , gastroenterology , cohort , disease , lung
Background and Aims Information regarding autoimmune symptoms that do not meet the diagnostic criteria for connective tissue disease in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF ) is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in the clinical characteristics and prognosis of IPF patients with and without autoimmune symptoms. Methods Consecutive patients diagnosed with IPF ( N = 96) from J anuary 2008 to D ecember 2012 were included. We compared the clinical characteristics of patients with and without autoimmune symptoms. Survival was compared by log‐rank and Cox proportional hazard analyses. Results Thirty‐six (38%) patients reported autoimmune symptoms. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between those with and without autoimmune symptoms. Patients with autoimmune symptoms had a better survival rate than those without symptoms [hazard ratio ( HR ) 0.27; 95% confidence interval ( CI ) 0.09–0.82; P = 0.020]. After adjusting for age, gender and smoking status, the presence of autoimmune symptoms was associated with improved survival ( HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09–0.89; P = 0.032). However, after adjusting for other covariates, including per cent predicted forced vital capacity and high‐resolution computed tomography total extent score, the presence of autoimmune symptoms did not influence survival ( HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.15–1.61; P = 0.240). The median follow‐up period for the studied cohort was 31.5 months. Conclusion It appears that autoimmune symptoms are associated with better prognosis among IPF patients. However, future studies are needed to validate our findings.