Abstract：
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common progressive form of interstitial lung disease (ILD) that leads to gradual deterioration of lung function and ultimately death. Data from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) on IPF is scarce. In this communication, we report the challenges encountered in managing IPF from Pakistan\'s largest tertiary care centre. A total of 108 patients with IPF were evaluated at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan from January 2017 to March 2020. A significant concern was that most patients with IPF presented late during their disease. A bigger challenge encountered in clinical practice was the cost and nonavailability of antifibrotic therapy in the country until mid-2020. Successfully addressing these limitations, it is anticipated that better care will be available for the patients suffering from IPF in this part of the world.
摘要：
特发性肺纤维化（IPF）是间质性肺病（ILD）的最常见进行性形式，导致肺功能逐渐恶化并最终死亡。来自低收入和中等收入国家（LMIC）的IPF数据很少。在这份通讯中,我们报告了巴基斯坦最大的三级护理中心在管理IPF时遇到的挑战。在卡拉奇的阿加汗大学医院共评估了108例IPF患者，巴基斯坦从2017年1月到2020年3月。一个重要的问题是，大多数IPF患者在疾病期间出现较晚。在临床实践中遇到的一个更大的挑战是该国在2020年中期之前的抗纤维化治疗的成本和不可用。成功地解决了这些限制，预计在世界这一地区，IPF患者将获得更好的治疗。
