New research shows that Esbriet, or perfenidone, might be as or more effective than prednisone and acetylcysteine in treating inflammation in the lungs, reports Pulmonary Fibrosis News.
The goal of the new study was to compare Esbriet, prednisone and acetylcysteine’s impact on Cav-1 expression in mice with IPF.
Researchers divided 75 male rats into five groups: model group M, Esbriet group P, acetylcysteine group N, hormone (or prednisone) group H and control group C. The team introduced IPF to rats in all groups but
Rats in the M group received 2?ml of 0.9% normal saline twice a day, while rats in the P, N and H groups received the therapies they were scheduled for.
After 15, 30 and 45 days of treatment, scientists assessed five rats in each group for degree of fibrosis and airsacculitis, or inflammation of the lungs’ air sacs. They were also assessed for expression of Cav-1 and the cytokines TNF-?, TGF-?1, and PDGF.
As expected, rats in the C group showed normal lung structure. Scientists found that after 15 days, rats in the M group displayed inflammation and light fibrosis. The symptoms worsened over the next 30 days.
At all three time points, the degree of fibrosis and airsacculitis was lower in the P, H and N groups than in the M group.
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