The effects of pirfenidone in patients with an acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia

INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of patients with an acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia (AE-IP) is poor. Pirfenidone (PFD) reduces the disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was evaluating whether the administration of PFD improved the outcomes of AE-IP. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 31 patients with AE-IP who did not recover between 7 and 14 days after an initial treatment. Fourteen patients received PFD within 2 weeks (PFD group) of the AE, while 17 patients were treated without PFD (non-PFD group). The patients' clinical data and computed tomography (CT) scores were analyzed. RESULTS: The survival rate in the PFD group was not significantly different from non-PFD group at 30 (78.6% vs 64.7%, P = .46) and 90 days (64.3% vs 52.9%, P = .72). The white blood cell counts in the PFD group were significantly lower on PFD day 14 than on PFD days 1 and 7. The C-reactive protein levels in the PFD group were also significantly lower on PFD day 7 than on PFD day 1. There were no significant differences regarding the changes of the CT scores. CONCLUSIONS: PFD may reduce the inflammation in AE-IP patients undergoing corticosteroid treatment.