Cardiovascular Fibrosis in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Fibroproliferative diseases, including pulmonary, cardiac and vascular fibrosis share common pathogenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, cardiovascular comorbidities are frequently found in patients with IPF. However, the prevalence of cardiac and vascular fibrosis in patients with IPF have yet to be determined. Main Purpose of this study is to evaluate, with non-invasive methods (echocardiogram, endothelial function and pulse wave velocity) and blood biomarkers (galectins-3, osteopontin, periostin and pro-BNP), the presence of vascular fibrosis (vascular rigidity and endothelial function) and cardiac fibrosis (prevalence of HFpEF - Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), compared to healthy controls.