Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common form of lung fibrotic disease whose causes
remain an enigma. The disease is limited to the lung and cases are reported from around
the world with no predilection by ethnicity or race. Although no specific genetic factors have
been identified, there have been cases of reported inheritable forms of IPF. 1–3 IPF is
progressive and characterized by increased fibroblastic proliferation and extracellular matrix
remodeling. The result of these processes is the dramatic disruption of the lungs natural …