What prognostic tools can be used to assess patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)? How can researchers use these tools to determine the efficacy of therapies during clinical trials, or to identify patients that are at an increased risk of declining during treatment? One such tool is medical software company Brainomix’s e-ILD software. According to a news release from the company, which aims to develop AI-powered imaging biomarkers, it recently created an e-ILD imaging biomarker that can provide more insights into IPF.

To develop, refine, and validate its software, Brainomix utilized data from the Open Source Imaging Consortium Data Repository, a first-of-its-kind global data repository for interstitial lung diseases. You can learn more about the Data Repository here.

First, Brainomix used an AI approach to evaluate CT scans and data from those with a concrete IPF diagnosis. In particular, the approach utilized machine learning. Through this, the Brainomix e-ILD software was able to develop multiple imaging biomarkers. These biomarkers are able to:

• More effectively and accurately predict rates of transplant-free survival
• Utilize CT scans to determine how patients’ lung function may decline or how long patients may survive
• Determine patients at a high risk of IPF progression so that these patients can be included in clinical trials
• Better identify how the IPF is responding to treatment within these trials

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Idiopathic means of an unknown cause. Pulmonary refers to anything related to the lungs. Fibrosis refers to scarring, or the hardening of scar tissue. So idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive lung disease, with an unknown cause, which results in scar tissue accumulation in the lungs. As this scar tissue builds up, it causes difficulty breathing, as well as prevents enough oxygen from reaching the blood stream. An estimated 13-20 out of every 100,000 people has IPF. Many researchers believe that a mixture of genetic and environmental causes play a role in IPF development. Unfortunately, IPF comes with a poor prognosis of 3-5 years following diagnosis. However, IPF is also incredibly variable, meaning it could cause rapid decline or it could progress slowly over time. Symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing
• A dry, hacking cough
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Appetite loss
• Unintended weight loss
• Clubbed fingers and toes
• Leg swelling
• Joint and muscle pain
• Increased risk of lung cancer, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolisms