The Treatment of Cryptogenic Fibrosing Alveolitis with Immunosuppressant Drugs

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Abstract
Five patients with cryptogenic fLbrosing alveolitis have been treated with immuno-suppressant agents, and a useful response was obtained in three. In two who had previously responded to steroids but had developed important side effects on the minimal maintenance dose, the addition of immunosuppressants maintained the clinical improvement with a substantial reduction in steroid dose; a third patient improved on immunosuppressant therapy alone. The other patients with advanced fibrotic but progressive disease who had failed to respond to moderately high doses of steroids failed also to improve on immunosuppressant therapy. Monitoring of the immune response in three of the patients during treatment showed suppression of primary and secondary responses and delayed hypersensitivity to the antigens used. It is suggested that immunosuppressant therapy is useful in some cases of fibrosing alveolitis, especially in those where steroids have been helpful but their continued use is contraindicated.

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