Causes
Where a cause or risk factor can be identified, PF can be caused by:
- Genetics: PF can sometimes run in families
- Things in the environment: This can include air pollution, mould, birds, or other things in your surroundings
- Things at work: Breathing in things like asbestos, silica, dust or chemicals at work
- Autoimmune diseases: These are illnesses where your body’s defense system attacks itself. Rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma are examples of these
- Medications or radiation: Some medications or radiation treatment
- Infections: Tuberculosis and bad chest infections
- Smoking: Smoking can make PF more likely.
Pulmonary fibrosis known and unknown causes
Pulmonary fibrosis with known causes
Examples
- Secondary to autoimmune disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma)
- Secondary to non-organic exposures (e.g. heavy asbestos, silica, certain medications)
- Secondary to organic exposures (e.g. hypersensitivity pneumonitis from mould or birds)
- Secondary to smoking (e.g. pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis)
Pulmonary fibrosis with no known causes (idiopathic)
Examples
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
- Idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)
- Cryptogenic organising pneumonia (COP)
Other
Examples
- Sarcoidosis
Resources
Fact sheet
Sarcoidosis of the lungs
The sarcoidosis of the lung fact sheet has been designed to provide
Fact sheet
Scleroderma with interstitial lung disease (ILD)
The scleroderma with ILD fact sheet has been designed to provide an
Fact sheet
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)
The hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) fact sheet has been designed to provide an
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