- The INER Research Directorate has 107 professionals, who carry out experimental clinical research with groups of patients.
- Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis are associated with the propensity to develop idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- The Pulmonary Aging and Fibrosing Lung Diseases Program conducts clinical studies of this condition.
The National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) “Ismael Cosío Villegas”, through the Interstitial Lung Diseases Clinic, diagnoses and provides care to patients with fibrosing diseases such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
In addition to the above, it also stands out for the research it carries out with the Lung Aging and Fibrosing Lung Diseases Programwith groups of patients participating in senescence studies, reported the institute’s Research Director, Moisés Selman Lama.
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The emeritus researcher explained that the Interstitial Diseases Clinic provides between 400 and 500 consultations annually. There, a chest tomography and pulmonary function tests (spirometry and carbon monoxide diffusion) are performed to find out if the patient has an obstructive lung disease such as COPD, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis, among others, or a restrictive lung disease.
A disease that takes your breath away
He detailed that the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis It is a progressive, highly disabling and lethal disease, characterized by the formation of scars in the lungs, causing them to become rigid.
He specified that a high number of patients arrive with a significant progression of the disease, on average one year or more from the onset of symptoms, losing a window of opportunity to begin treatment to reduce hospital readmissions for lung infections. which are very common in these patients, as well as the control of the disease, the prevention of exacerbations, among others.
Currently there are two antifibrosing medications that reduce the speed of progression and prevent the risk of acute exacerbation episodes, increasing the years of survival between five and seven more, he explained.
Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis are associated with the propensity to develop pulmonary fibrosis. If it is not diagnosed in time and treatment is provided, it can progress as if it were progressive pulmonary fibrosis at some point in its evolution. However, the exact prevalence of this condition in Mexico is not known, since there are not enough studies on the matter.
Selman Lama emphasized that pulmonary rehabilitation In patients with pulmonary fibrosis, it is extremely important, as well as the use of oxygen, to have all vaccines such as influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcus, as well as psychological support.
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He explained that, as part of the interdisciplinary management of patients with respiratory diseases associated with disability, the Pulmonary Rehabilitation area of the INER has pulmonary physiotherapy and physical conditioning.
Likewise, with the Patient and Family Support Program, free psychological care is provided with psychology, psychiatry and thanatology personnel, since patients present anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, irritability, excessive worry, problems concentrating and ideas of death. derived from how disabling the disease makes them.
Regarding research, he pointed out that the Pulmonary Aging and Fibrosing Lung Diseases Program of the INER together with the National Laboratory of Biomimetic Solutions for Diagnosis and Therapy (LaNSBioDyT) of the UNAM, have developed studies of senescence in pulmonary fibrosis with epithelial cells alveolar cells, achieving a significant reduction in the growth rate and an increase in senescence markers.
He added that, currently, the INER Research Directorate has 107 researchers, of which about 60 percent have doctoral studies and 90 percent belong to the National System of Researchers (SNII), who carry out experimental clinical research with groups of patients with diverse opportunities to be integrated into studies.
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