Trust sets up specialist lung service
The trust has developed a specialist service to treat patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).
ILD covers a group of diseases causing either inflammation or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs that stiffen the organ leading to a progressive loss of lung function, increasing breathlessness and eventually death.
ILD can be a condition with no identifiable cause, such as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), or triggered by rheumatologic diseases, environmental factors, smoking and various medications. It also includes a number of less common disorders.
Dr Georgios Margaritopoulos, a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine with a special Interest in ILDs, said: “It’s often a progressive disease so the earlier we can reach a confident diagnosis, the earlier we can introduce treatment to slow its progress or to stabilise it”.
Dr Margaritopoulos set the service up a year ago after having worked in the ILD unit at the Royal Brompton and Manchester University FT hospitals. He is a recipient of research grants from the European and Greek Thoracic Societies and published relevant articles in peer reviewed journals.
At present, the Trust treats more than 500 patients at its ILD dedicated outpatient clinics at Ealing and Northwick Park sites but has aspirations to join four specialist ILD referral centres in London.
“Our goal is to become a referral centre for the prescription of antifibrotic medications, a treatment approved for the most common and progressive form of ILDs, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, for patients across North West London and we’re currently recruiting a specialist nurse before applying.”
Dr Margaritopoulos was recently elected as a member of the Long Range Plan Committee for the Assembly 12 (ILD) for European Respiratory Society. The committee has scientific, educational, advocacy and membership responsibilities.