|
Pulmonary fibrosis (literally "scarring of the lungs") is a respiratory disease in which scars are formed in the lung tissues, leading to serious breathing problems. Scar formation, the accumulation of excess fibrous connective tissue (the process called fibrosis), leads to thickening of the walls, and causes reduced oxygen supply in the blood. As a consequence patients suffer from perpetual shortness of breath. In some patients the specific cause of the disease can be diagnosed, but in others the probable cause cannot be determined, a condition called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. There is no known cure for the scars and damage in the lung due to pulmonary fibrosis.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.medicinenet.com/pulmonary_fibrosis/article.htm )〕 ==Signs and symptoms== Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly: *Shortness of breath, particularly with exertion *Chronic dry, hacking coughing *Fatigue and weakness *Chest discomfort including chest pain *Loss of appetite and rapid weight loss Pulmonary fibrosis is suggested by a history of progressive shortness of breath (dyspnea) with exertion. Sometimes fine inspiratory crackles can be heard at the lung bases on auscultation. A chest x-ray may or may not be abnormal, but high-resolution CT will frequently demonstrate abnormalities.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「pulmonary fibrosis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|