Efficacy of treatment with corticosteroids for fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a propensity score-matched cohort analysis

BACKGROUND: Fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a chronic interstitial lung disease caused by allergic responses to repeated exposures to a causative antigen. Therapeutic evidence of the use of corticosteroids to treat fibrotic HP remains lacking, although corticosteroids are recognized as a major treatment option. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in patients with fibrotic HP in a propensity score-matched cohort. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records from 2005 to 2019 in a single center was conducted, and 144 patients with fibrotic HP were identified. Semiquantitative scores for lung abnormalities on HRCT were evaluated. Patients who received (PDN group) and did not receive (non-PDN group) corticosteroid treatment were matched using a propensity score method. Survival rates, serial changes in pulmonary function and annual changes in HRCT scores were compared in the matched cohort. RESULTS: In the matched analysis, 30 individuals in the PDN group were matched with 30 individuals in the non-PDN group, the majority of whom had ILD without extensive fibrosis. The survival rate was significantly better in the PDN group (P = 0.032 for the stratified Cox proportional hazards model; HR, 0.250). The absolute changes in FVC at 6, 12, and 24 months from baseline were significantly better in the PDN group. Fewer patients in the PDN group experienced annual deterioration, as reflected in the HRCT score, due to ground-glass attenuation, consolidation, reticulation, traction bronchiectasis and honeycombing. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that corticosteroids improved survival and slowed fibrotic progression in a matched cohort, the majority of whom had ILD without extensive fibrosis. Fibrotic HP with less severe fibrosis may benefit from corticosteroid treatment. We propose that the early initiation of corticosteroids should be considered for fibrotic HP when worsening fibrosis is observed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-021-01608-1.