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. 2017 Oct 23;4:176. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00176

Table 1.

Revised and previous definitions and diagnostic criteria for AE-IPF.

Diagnosis of AE-IPF Revised diagnosis Previous diagnosis
Definition
An acute, clinically significant, respiratory deterioration characterized by evidence of new widespread alveolar abnormalities An acute, clinically significant, respiratory deteriorartion of unidentifiable cause

Diagnostic criteria
– Previous diagnosis Previous or concurrent diagnosis of IPF Previous or concurrent diagnosis of IPF
– Clinical presentation Acute worsening or development of dyspnea typically of less than 1 month Unexplained worsening or development of dyspnea within 30 days
– Computed tomography findings New bilateral ground-glass opacity and/or consolidation superimposed on a background pattern consistent with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern New bilateral ground-glass abnormality and/or consolidation superimposed on a background reticular or honeycomb pattern consistent with UIP pattern
– Exclusion of differential diagnosis Deterioration not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload Exclusion of alternative causes, including left heart failure, pulmonary embolism and an identifiable cause of acute lung injury
– Concomitant Infection No evidence of pulmonary infection by endotracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage

AEIPF, acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.