Impact of Lung Biopsy on Lung Function in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Video-assisted surgical lung biopsy (SLB) is performed in 10–30% of cases to establish the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of SLB on lung function in patients eventually diagnosed with IPF. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This is an observational, retrospective, monocentric study of all consecutive patients eventually diagnosed with IPF in multidisciplinary discussion who underwent SLB over 10 years in a specialized center. The primary end point was the variation in forced vital capacity (FVC) before and after the SLB. The secondary end points were the variations in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), and morbidity and mortality associated with the SLB. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In 118 patients who underwent SLB and were diagnosed with IPF, a relative decrease in FVC of 4.8% (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) was found between measurements performed before and after the procedure. The mean FVC decrease was 156 ± 386 mL in an average period of 185 days, representing an annualized decline of 363 ± 764 mL/year. A significant decrease was also observed after SLB in FEV1, TLC, and DLCO. Complications within 30 days of SLB occurred in 14.4% of patients. Two patients (1.7%) died within 30 days, where one of them had poor lung function. Survival at 1 year was significantly poorer in patients with FVC &#x3c;50% at baseline. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In this uncontrolled study in patients ultimately diagnosed with IPF, SLB was followed by a significant decline in FVC, which appears to be numerically greater than the average decline in the absence of treatment in the literature. <b><i>Summary at a Glance:</i></b> This study evaluated the change in lung function in 118 consecutive patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by surgical lung biopsy. Forced vital capacity decreased by 156 ± 386 mL in a mean of 185 days between the last measurement before and first measurement after biopsy, representing an annualized decline of 363 ± 764 mL/year.