Intravenous Immunoglobulin for the Treatment of Acute Exacerbations of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Summary

Acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) are sudden and severe worsening episodes that can be life-threatening. Currently, no treatment has been proven to clearly improve outcomes during these events. Inflammation and immune system imbalance are thought to play an important role in causing AE-IPF. Early clinical experience suggests that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can be beneficial for patients suffering from AE-IPF. This clinical trial aims to determine whether adding IVIG to usual treatment can improve outcomes for patients hospitalized with AE-IPF.

Timeline

Start

2026-01-25

Primary completion

2028-06

Completion

2028-12

Publications

• Sotiropoulou V, Sampsonas F, Vasarmidi E, Antoniou K, Gogali A, Kostikas K, Drakopanagiotakis F, Steiropoulos P, Margaritopoulos G, Porpodis K, Daniil Z, Tomos I, Papanikolaou I, Tzilas V, Loukides S, Tzouvelekis A. Design of the MERCURION-IPF trial - intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Front Immunol. 2026 May 5;17:1777564. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1777564. eCollection 2026.

Drugs

Indications