Mechanisms of Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis

This a prospective, longitudinal study of first-degree family members of patients diagnosed with familial interstitial pneumonia (FIP). FIP is the familial form of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which is defined as 2 or more bloodline relatives which have a diagnosis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). The most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia in FIP families is IPF (approximately 70%). The inheritance pattern in FIP is consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance. Therefore, individuals in this study have approximately 50% risk of carrying a disease-associated allele. The causative gene is currently only known approximately 20% of families. The main goal of this longitudinal study is to better establish the natural history of FIP and to identify risk factors for later development of symptomatic disease. The investigators' plan is to follow these at-risk individuals with yearly questionnaires and planned in person 2 year follow-ups through age 75 or until they develop symptomatic FIP.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis; Familial Interstitial Pneumonia

Detailed Description

Potential research subjects will be sent a questionnaire (modified version of the ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire) and study consent form. Individuals with no prior history of lung disease and a dyspnea score of 2 or less will be offered the opportunity to undergo further research evaluation, which will include HRCT scanning, pulmonary function testing (PFTs) and blood draw. Subjects with grade 3 or greater dyspnea or findings of extensive disease on HRCT scan (see below), will be recommended to undergo clinical diagnostic evaluation outside the study. For those subjects that participate in this study, demographic information will be collected and stored in a database, including past medical history, smoking history, medications, and occupational and environmental exposure history.

Approximately every 2 years, we may contact you to return to Vanderbilt for another round of blood draw, high resolution CT scan of your lungs, and Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs). These tests are repeated to help us understand whether changes in blood, CT scan, or lung function can predict the development of pulmonary fibrosis in relatives of patients with pulmonary fibrosis. We expect the follow-up period to last approximately 10 years (from the first study visit). Subjects will be asked to complete no more than 6 total blood/HRCT/PFT collections.

Each year after enrollment, the investigators will perform follow-up to ascertain whether subjects have: 1) developed respiratory symptoms consistent with FIP/IPF, 2) undergone additional diagnostic evaluations for lung disease, or 3) begun any new treatments for lung disease. Subjects who have developed respiratory symptoms will be encouraged to seek medical evaluation. For those who have undergone any new diagnostic testing or have been diagnosed with FIP, study coordinators will seek permission to obtain HRCTs, medical records, pulmonary function test results, and lung blocks for evaluation by investigators in this study.

The investigators will use standard criteria established by the ATS/ERS to guide the diagnostic classification of patients who develop FIP. Information will be reviewed by a pathologist, a radiologist, and 3 clinicians. In all cases, the clinicians make the final diagnosis and after reviewing the clinical material (clinical/demographic data and pulmonary physiology), and the radiology and pathology data.

HRCT: A single prone HRCT scan without intravenous contrast will be performed and read by an expert chest radiologist. He will assess the presence, extent, and distribution of areas of ground-glass attenuation, interlobular reticular opacities, irregular thickening of interlobular septa, traction bronchiectasis, and traction bronchiolectasis. The anatomic distribution of each finding will be classified in each lung in one of 4 zones from apex to base (upper, middle, lower, lowest). A score of 0 (absent), 1 (<5%), or 2 (>5% parenchymal involvement) will be given for each descriptor in each lung zone based on visual estimation (total score of 1-16). In addition, HRCT scans will be classified as: 1) normal, 2) abnormal, consistent with early FIP, 3) abnormal, consistent with extensive disease, or 4) abnormal, consistent with other diagnoses. Extensive disease is defined as >5% honeycombing in >2 zones. Other diagnoses could include suspicious lung nodules, extensive emphysema, or other findings requiring clinical referral. Disease progression on HRCT is defined by an increase in the total CT score.

Pulmonary function testing: PFTs will include spirometry, lung volumes, and DLCO.

Genetic Counseling Visit (Optional):

Should you be interested in having a visit with a genetic counselor associated with the research team, a standard new patient visit with the counselor can be arranged with your first visit for the study, or at a follow-up visit. The study will pay for one visit with the genetic counselor, who will provide a standard session that is tailored to your and your family's history. Some of the information obtained during the visit may be used in this research study, to help us understand the counselling needs of relatives of patients with pulmonary fibrosis. The counselor may discuss aspects of clinical care, including clinical genetic testing. The study will not pay for clinical genetic testing, but the genetic counselor will discuss when clinicalgenetic testing is appropriate and which family members are most informative to undergo clinical genetic testing.

Specimen collection, processing, and banking: Each subject will have 40 ml blood collected on enrollment and on the day of repeat HRCT. Lymphocytes will be saved for generation of lymphoblastoid cells, DNA isolation, and telomere length analysis. Both serum and plasma will be saved for further studies.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 750

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tisra H Fadely, RN; Email: Tisra.h.fadely@vumc.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
      • Recruiting
      • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
      • Principal Investigator: Timothy Blackwell, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 38 years to 73 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Inclusion Criteria:

1) Bloodline members of an affected individual from a family in which two or more members of a family bloodline are known to have had proven Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia (IIP) and who have no known diagnosis of IIP or IPF

Description

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Bloodline members of an affected individual from a family in which two or more members of a family are known to have Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia (IIP) and who have no personal diagnosis of IIP or IPF
2. Sibling or adult child of an affected individual

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to understand the requirements of the study or be unwilling to provide written informed consent (as evidenced by signature on an informed consent document approved by the IRB).
2. Inability to travel to Nashville for 1-2 outpatient visits and/or complete a written or on line version of the Interstitial Lung Disease Questionnaire
3. Age < 40 or >75 years old. If the affected relative was younger than 50 years old at the time of IIP diagnosis, potential subjects between age 18 and 40 years may participate when they are up to 10 years younger than the age at relative's diagnosis.
4. Underlying disease with signs and symptoms that could be confused with IIP or IPF symptoms (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue diseases, occupational lung disease, chemotherapy, etc.)
5. Thought to be unsuitable for participation in the study in the opinion of the investigator

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Family-Based
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis; Subjects asked to participate in this study will be unaffected family members of patients previously diagnosed with familial interstitial pneumonia (FIP) which is the familial form of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
clinical diagnosis of interstitial lung disease	by ATS/ERS criteria	Until anticipated study completion of 4-30-2023

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Timothy Blackwell, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 16, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): February 19, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 12, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Fibrosis; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Lung Diseases, Interstitial
• Other Study ID Numbers: 080780

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No