Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a heterogeneous disease with respect to clinical
presentation and rates of progression, disproportionately affects older adults. The diagnosis
of IPF is descriptive, based on clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic examination, and
definitive diagnosis is hampered by poor interobserver agreement and lack of a consensus
definition. There are no effective treatments. Cellular, molecular, genetic, and environmental
risk factors have been identified for IPF, but the initiating event and the characteristics of …