Mechanisms of Exertional Dyspnea in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease

Exertional dyspnea is a major source of crippling distress and is the hallmark symptom of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). Due to the scientific community's poor understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of dyspnea there are no therapeutic interventions that consistently reduce dyspnea in this population. The investigators aim to determine the physiological mechanisms of exertional dyspnea in patients with fibrotic ILD and the impact of hyperoxia on exertional dyspnea and exercise endurance. This study will likely identify an important physiological mechanism of dyspnea in fibrotic ILD and may contribute to the development of effective therapies to reduce dyspnea in this population. The central hypothesis is that dyspnea in fibrotic ILD is primarily a result of an imbalance between the drive to breathe and the tidal volume response of the respiratory system (i.e., neuromechanical uncoupling) and that experimental reduction of neuromechanical uncoupling via hyperoxic breathing will reduce exertional dyspnea and improve exercise endurance.