Short term Quantitative Lung Fibrosis (QLF) change predicts rapid rate of FVC decline in patients with IPF

Background: Patients with IPF experience varying degrees of decline in lung function over time. The rate of decline can vary between patients and across over time and at present there is no reliable way to predict which subjects will decline faster. Aim: This study explores whether short term change in QLF score can predict fast from vs slow FVC decline. Methods: In an open-label phase 2 trial in patients with IPF subjects underwent standardized HRCT scans (QLF) and spirometry (FVC) performed at baseline and every 24 and 12 weeks, respectively. QLF was measured whore for the whole lung and worst lobe. Mixed effect models were used to estimate and compare against the reduction in FVC over repeated measurements with linear or quadratic growth models. Results: The aAnnual rate of reduction in mean FVC was 3.5% for the Week 24week QLF changes of Conclusion: Change in QLF of 4 percent at 6 months isn predictive of rapid FVC decline within 12 to 15 months