Conventional therapy: combination of corticosteroid and a cytotoxic agent
Outcome: change in forced vital capacity as percent of predicted at 6 months after starting therapy
Assessment: microscopic examination of an adequate lung biopsy
Histologic features associated with improved vital capacity:
(1) lymphoplasmacytic inflammation outside of areas of fibrosis
Histologic features associated with decreased vital capacity:
(1) organizing pneumonia (airspace organization)
(2) moderate or substantial fibroblast foci
Overall survival was not associated with histologic findings. It was worse if:
(1) The patient is older.
(2) The baseline forced vital capacity as percent of predicted is poor.
