Pulmonary Fibrosis

Looking for a second opinion

06/23/2009

Question:

My dad just turned 65 and has been diagnosed with IPF. His current doctor has not given us any hope of survival, they say there is nothing else they can do - which is the standard treatment of prednisone.
In the research we have done, it is our understanding that "conventional" treatment is minimal at best. In order to "combat" this disease alternative treatment and possible "trial" drugs need to be administered. We want to get a second opinion and possibly transfer him to a facility that offers more than conventional treatment.
We were looking at OSU, MSU, Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic as an alternative? Do any of these hospitals go above and beyond the conventional treatment methods?
What, if anything, do you know about the drug neprinol?
Would you be willing to review his case file and give us a second opinion?

Answer:

The best resource to find open clinical trials for investigational studies for any disease is the National Institutes of Health's website: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

For pulmonary fibrosis trials, try this internet link:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=pulmonary+fibrosis

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Response by:

James N. Allen, Jr., MD
Professor - Clinical
Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University