PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Leslie B. Tolle AU - Brian D. Southern AU - Daniel A. Culver AU - Jeffrey C. Horowitz TI - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: What primary care physicians need to know AID - 10.3949/ccjm.85a.17018 DP - 2018 May 01 TA - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine PG - 377--386 VI - 85 IP - 5 4099 - http://www.ccjm.org/content/85/5/377.short 4100 - http://www.ccjm.org/content/85/5/377.full SO - Cleve Clin J Med2018 May 01; 85 AB - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a specific type of fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause. It is usually chronic and progressive, tends to affect mainly adults over age 60, has a predilection for men, and is often fatal. The condition is still underappreciated by pulmonologists and primary care physicians. This article attempts to close that information gap by reviewing the natural course of IPF and presenting an algorithmic approach to diagnosis and treatment based on evidence-based international guidelines. New treatment options are briefly discussed, to raise awareness of new medications that target pulmonary fibrosis.