Pregnancy in a Patient with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Case Report

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive restrictive lung disease. Data on the impact of pregnancy on IPF and maternal outcome is extremely limited. We present the case of a 35-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 0 with familial IPF with no oxygen requirement prior to pregnancy. The patient demonstrated significant deterioration in her lung function beginning at 22 weeks' gestation and underwent hospitalization at 27 (2/7) weeks gestation due to acute on chronic hypoxic respiratory failure, ultimately requiring delivery at 28 weeks' gestation. The patient has not regained her baseline pulmonary function and remains oxygen dependent at 5 months postpartum. Based on limited available data, significant maternal morbidity and mortality is reported for women with IPF who become pregnant. Key Points: Pregnancy outcomes in IPF are more severe than chronic interstitial lung disease due to connective tissue disorders. Deterioration in lung function amongst pregnant women with IPF occurs predominantly in the late second trimester, and lung function does not appear to recover postpartum. Significant maternal morbidity and mortality (40% at 1 year postpartum) is reported for women with IPF who become pregnant.